Genetic variability, heretability and genetic advance studies for yield and yield related traits in pearlmillet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Abstract

The study was initiated to determine the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance analysis for yield and yield related traits. The materials comprised of nine parents viz., RVS-08/6, R-16419, R-15114, R-15134, R-15261, R-15510, R-15762, R-18428, ASRT-111 and their 36 F1’s developed through half diallel cross. The trial was carried out in randomized block design (RBD) with two replications. Heritability is a measure of possible genetic advancement under selection. Some characters recorded high value of heritability and genetic advance, indicating effectiveness in selection of these traits. Higher heritability was observed for Seed setting %, panicle length, panicle index per plant, plant height, days to 50% flowering and effective tiller per plant, pollen viability %, grain yield per plant while moderate heritability exhibited for canopy temperature at vegetative stage, canopy temperature at post anthesis and flag leaf temperature. Higher genetic advance as per cent of mean was found for three characters that is for effective tillers per plant, panicle length and grain yield per plant. The moderate genetic advance was found for plant height that makes simple selection should lead to a fast genetic improvement of the genotypes used in this study.