Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance studies in oat (Avena sativa L.)

Abstract

Eight genotypes viz., Kent, OS 6, JHO-99-2, JHO 851, OS 403, OL 125, UPO 212 and NDO 612 were studied for genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for green fodder yield, days to 50% flowering, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, plant height, number of tillers per plant, stem girth, number of green pod per spike, length of spike and leaf stem ratio. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among the parents and F1s for all the attributes. The parent’s vs hybrids revealed highly significant differences for all the traits. The F test indicated that the variance due to treatments were highly significant for all the characters which indicated that the presence of substantial genetic variability in the present set of material. The highest values of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation (more than 25%) were observed for number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant, leaf stem ratio and green fodder yield per plant, suggested that there was a possibility of improvement of fodder yield through direct selection. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for number of leaves per plant, leaf area, plant height, Number of tillers per plant, stem girth, number of green pods per spike, length of spike and green fodder yield per plant, indicating that these characters are governed by additive gene action. Direct selection of these attributes will be effective and profitably for yield improvement.