Assessing of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) under sodic soil

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken with the objectives of genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) under sodic soil. The experiment was conducted at Genetics and Plant Breeding Research Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) during Rabi, 2018-19. The experimental materials of faba bean for this investigation comprised of 65 entries (45 F1’s, 18 parents along with two check varieties viz., Vikrant and HFB 1) for fourteen characters under salt-affected soil in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The soil type of the experimental site was sandy loam, low in organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus and rich in potash (EC-3.2dSm-1; ESP-45% and pH-9.2). The analysis of variance revealed that all the treatments were highly significant for the yields and its contributing traits indicated sufficient variation among the treatment/materials under study. In general, PCV were higher than the GCV for all characters under salt-affected soil indicates the influence of the environment. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for leaf nitrogen, grain yield per plant, chlorophyll content, biological yield per plant, and number of pods per plant indicates that presence of additive gene action. Hence, emphasis should be given to select these quantitative traits to enhance the yield potential of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) under salt-affected soil.