Studies on genetic variability, character association and path analysis for yield and yield components in finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) genotypes

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the genetic variability parameters and nature of associations among the traits affecting grain yield in thirty finger millet genotypes. The estimates of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation were high for number of productive tillers per plant and grain yield, moderate for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height and main ear length, whereas low GCV and high PCV was recorded for number of fingers per ear. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for most of the traits suggesting that they can be improved through direct selection due to predominant additive gene action. High heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance was observed for plant height and number of fingers per ear indicating the role of both additive and non-additive gene action. Correlation studies revealed that days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of productive tillers per plant, main ear length, number of fingers per ear exhibited highly significant positive correlation with grain yield at phenotypic and genotypic level. Path coefficient analysis showed that number of fingers per ear (0.554) at genotypic level and number of productive tillers at phenotypic level (0.283) exerted maximum direct effect on grain yield (q/ha).