Characterisation of new germplasm accessions for yield and yield related traits in Foxtail millet [ Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv]

Abstract

Thirty indigenous collections of Foxtail millet were evaluated for assessment of yield and yield related traits during Kharif 2016 in ZARS, V.C. Farm, Mandya. Analysis of variance indicated the significant difference among the germplasm evaluated for all the traits. The difference between phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variations were less for all the traits indicating the less influence of environment on the expression of these traits. High heritability with high genetic advance was observed for number of tillers per plant, flag leaf blade width, flag leaf sheath length, inflorescence length, single plant yield and net plot yield indicating the predominance of additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits, hence simple selection for these traits will be effective. Single plant yield was significantly correlated with flag leaf blade length, flag leaf blade width, inflorescence length, 1000 seed weight and net plot yield both at genotypic and phenotypic level. Path analysis revealed that inflorescence length had high positive direct effect on single plant yield followed by 1000 seed weight both at genotypic and phenotypic level. Hence selection based on these traits will be effective.