Assessment of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield components in some cooking banana genotypes (Musa Spp.)

Abstract

The present investigation consists of 13 cooking banana genotypes and the experiment was conducted during 2014-2015 in Randomize Block Design with 5 replications at All India Coordinated Research Project (Banana), Horticultural Research Station, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The data were recorded for 11 quantitative characters to study genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficient analysis and path analysis. On the basis of mean performance, Plant morphology and quantitative yield parameters were recorded maximum pseudostem girth, total number of leaves, average number of hands, fingers and bunch weight was recorded in Bantala Sambalpuri (Patiapalli). Least pseudostem height, girth, bunch weight were recorded in Dakhinisagar. Analysis of variance among 13 genotypes showed significant difference for all characters studied. Highest genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) & phenotypic coefficient variation (PCV) was observed for number of fingers per bunch, number of hands per bunch, and bunch weight indicating selection for such characters would be more reliable to be used as selection for crop improvement High degree of heritability estimates were obtained in case of length and breadth of leaf, number of fingers per bunch. High genetic advance were observed for no of fingers per bunch and pseudostem height indicating predominance of additive gene effects and possibilities of effective selection for the improvement of these characters.