Analysis of variability, association and effects of direct and indirect on quantitative traits in oats (Avena sativa L.)

Abstract

Twenty five oats genotypes were grown in randomized completely block design (RCBD) and evaluated for eleven characters. The genotypes showed significant differences between all the characters. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) estimates were high for seed yield per plant followed by seeds per plant, fresh green weight per plant, total number of tillers per plant. Heritability was high for most of the characters. Genetic advance (GA) was high for fresh green weight per plant (g) followed spike length and seeds per plant. Moderate to high heritability accompanied with high genetic advance for fresh green weight per plant (g) followed spike length and seeds per plant indicated additive gene action and selection for these characters would be effective. Harvest index, leaf width, seeds per plant and biological yield per plant had high positive correlation with seed yield per plant. Leaves per plant and leaf width had high positive direct effect on seed yield and indirect positive effect via these two traits greatly influenced positive association of other traits with seed yield. Total number of tillers per plant and days to flowering had moderate positive direct effect on seed yield. The remaining two component traits had very low direct effect on seed yield. The character association and path analysis study revealed that selection for harvest index and lead width would be highly effective in bringing out improvement in seed yield. Selection for biological yield per plant and seeds per plant would result in some improvement in yield. This study showed that there exists a large genetic variation among oats genotypes for most of the traits which could be exploited for direct selection of high yielding genotypes. Finally expect that these novel strains of oats which is suitable to winter growing should be useful for plain condition.