Variability and inter-relationships of quantitative traits in Sewan grass (Lasiurus sindicus Henr.) accessions

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to estimate morphological variation for green fodder yield and related traits in sewan grass (Lasiurus sindicus Henr.) for 273 accessions. The observations were recorded for eleven characters during kharif-2017 at Agricultural Research Station, Bikaner. Out of 273 accessions, phenotypic variation and character association study was done for 30 best accessions based on green fodder yield per plant. Phenotypic coefficient of variation was high for number of tillers per plant (67.68) followed by dry matter yield per plant (29.84), leaf: stem ratio (27.23) and green fodder yield per plant (24.12). It indicated that relative magnitude of the phenotypic variances among the accessions for above traits is very important prerequisite for making simultaneous selection. The result from character association indicated that green fodder yield per plant showed positive and significant correlation with spike length, number of tillers per plant and dry matter yield per plant. Dry matter yield per plant showed positive and significant correlation with number of tillers per plant, green fodder yield per plant and dry matter percentage at phenotypic level showing possibility of simultaneous improvement of these characters along with green fodder yield per plant and dry matter yield per plant. Superior accessions for green fodder yield per plant and dry matter yield per plant were RLSB 1-41, RLSB 1-27, RLSB 4-37, RLSB 10-1 and RLSB 11-50 on the basis of their mean value were identified for the characters.