Four hundred and fifty seven accessions of edible mukhikachu were collected from aroid growing thirteen districts of Bangladesh in 2005-2006. They were maintained at the experimental farm of the Institute of Biological sciences in 2005-2006 at Rajshahi University, Bangladesh. The accessions were grown in loamy soil in a single row of 4 meters length with inter row spacing of 60 cm. The present biometrical investigation was conducted with collected 30 elite accessions of mukhikachu from different aroid growing pockets in the country, such as Arani, Godagari and Meher chandi of Rajshahi, Tala of Satkhira, Churamonkati and of chougacha of Jessore, Santhahar of Bogra, Panchbibi of Joypurhat, Munshiganj and Joydebpur of Dhaka, Madhupur of Mymensingh and sadar upozilla of Barisal in Bangladesh.
When the vegetative growth was in climax or was slowed down, leaves become yellowish, dry and dropping then the quantitative parameters were observed and data were recorded following descriptors of taro with necessary modifications. Data on morphological characters were recorded from randomly selected five plants from each accession between 170 days after planting, while yield and other characters were recorded at harvest. Leaf observations were made on two fully developed leaves per plant and the average of three plants was recorded. This investigation was conducted at the experimental farm of the Institute of Biological Sciences research field at Rajshahi University, Rajshahi during the on set of rainy season 2005-2006. The land in which the experiment was carried out was medium high. The soil was part of Level Barind agroecological zone marked by sandy loam with pH 6.5. The rainfall distribution in rabi season was very low or Scanty (<40 cm). So that at least three times flood irrigation were required. All recommended agricultural practices were followed during production period. The propagules were sown on March, 2006. Two healthy propagules were planted per hill during plantation and finally, a single healthy plant was retained. The experiment was set up in a Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design with three replications. In each experimental plot plant propagules of mukhikachu were planted w ith row to row spacing of 0.75 m and plant to plant spacing of 0.60 cm. When the vegetative growth was in climax or was slowed down, leaves become yellowish, dry and dropping then the quantitative parameters were observe d and data were recorded following descriptors of taro with necessary modifications (IPGRI, 1999). Data on morphological characters were recorded from randomly selected five plants from each accession between 170 days after planting, while yield and other characters were recorded at harvest. Leaf observations were made on two fully developed leaves per plant and the average of three plants was recorded. Measurements were as follows:
Plant height (PLH): Plant height (cm) was measured from soil surface to ti p of the terminal leaf.
Petiole length (PEL): The length between the base of the plant and point of insertion or junction of leaf expressed (in cm).
Petiole breadth (PEB): Average measurements were taken for three position of petiole such as petiole base, middle position and junction of leaf attachment (in cm).
Leaf length (LEL): The leaf length was measured from leaf base to leaf apex (in cm).
Leaf breadth (LEB): The cross length of one end to the other of leaf lamina (in cm). Leaf Number (LEN): Total n umber of leaves per plant was counted from bottom to the top of the randomly selected five plants.
Leaf area Index (LAI): The leaf area index was measured as leaf length x leaf breadth x 0.75 (Montgomery, 1911).
Inflorescence length (IFL): It was measu red as the total length of inflorescence from peduncle base to the tip of the inflorescence (in cm).
Peduncle length (PDL): The stem holding the whole inflorescence is called peduncle and was measured as the length between peduncle base and starting port ion of spathe (in cm).
Corm length (CRL): The length of corm was measured with a scale or measuring tape through vertically (in cm).
Corm breadth (CRB): Breadth of the rhizome was measured horizontally through the middle position of corm (in cm).
Cormel length (COL): The length of cormel was measured with scale or tape through vertically (in cm).
Cormel breadth (COB): Breadth of the cormel was measured horizontally through the middle position of corm (in cm).
Cormel number (CON): The number of cormels present or attached adjacent to the corm after harvesting.
Cormel weight (COW): After detaching the cormlet from corm weight was measured (in gm).
Corm weight (CRW): After harvesting the corm was weighted (in gm).
Yield per plant (YPP): It was estimated a s the total weight of corm and cormels (in gm)
The collected data were analyzed following the biometrical techniques of analysis using the SPSS and Excel software. Mean and Critical differences were worked out by the method of analysis of variance. The analysis of variance for each character under the study. Critical differences were calculated to compare between any two means. For path coefficient analysis, the analysis of both variance and covariance viz. genotypic variance (σ2 g), phenotypic variance (σ2 p), and environment variance (σ2 e) were calculated between all possible pairs of characters separately using the formula. The path coefficient (direct and indirect effects) analysis was done.