Performance of poppy cultivars in relation to seed, oil and latex yields under different environments

Abstract

Abstract The performance of opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum Linn) cultivars grown at four locations spread over the entire opium poppy growing belt of India was evaluated in terms of three main economic characteristics, namely seed, oil and latex yields. Distinct environmental and varietal effects on these traits were observed. The cultivars were also evaluated in terms of their adaptability and stability under different agroclimatic conditions. The seed yield showed positive and significant correlation with oil and latex yields, indicating that seed yield alone may be taken as a reliable index in breeding high oil‐and latex‐yielding varieties.