INTERDEPENDENCE OF TRAITS IN EARLY-MATURING GENOTYPES OF CABBAGE (BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. CAPITATA L.)

In this paper we studied the variability and correlation of agronomic traits in early maturity cabbages. The study included early spring cabbages (planted in early spring, harvested in early summer). Using coefficients of variation and correlation coefficients, we analyzed 17 agronomic traits in 20 commercially grown cultivars, F₁ hybrids, and experimental F₁ hybrids. In the early cabbages, the coefficients of variation ranged from 4.8 to 44.2%. The early cabbages had 26 significant positive correlations. Plant height and plant diameter in the early genotypes were highly positively correlated with total weight of developed leaves, total weight of plant, total weight of head, usable portion of head, head length, and head diameter. Plant height and plant diameter participate in the formation of active photosynthetic area in early cabbages. Plant diameter in these genotypes provides a greater influx of light and heat, which results in greater total weight of head. Also, in early cabbages that have greater plant height, the leaf rosette will not lie on the cold surface of the ground in the spring. The activity of the cabbage plant is thus more focused towards the formation of larger total weight of head.