A study of heritability and genetic advance in pigeon pea. (Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill spp.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at Pulses and Castor Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during Kharif 2017-20 with a view to study heterosis of four crosses (each having P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations) in a Compact Family Block Design with three replications. Out of four crosses studied, high heritability coupled with high to moderate genetic advance for trait grain yield per plant in cross I and IV; days to flowering in cross I and II; days to maturity in cross II and IV; reproductive phase duration in cross I, III and IV; Plant height in cross II, III and IV; primary branches per plant in cross IV and pods per plant in cross II and IV. Simple selection method would be fruitful for improvement of various characters because they are predominantly inherited by genetic effect. Involvement of environment effect is very less in inheritance of above-mentioned traits.