Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance studies for morphological and quantitative traits in M3 generation of Safflower [Carthamus tinctorius (L.)]

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during Rabi, 2021-22 for M3 generation of safflower genotypes. The present field study was undertaken at the experimental farm of All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Safflower, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. (M.S.). The experimental material for evaluation in M3 generation included eighty-eight selected progenies along with two standard checks. The evaluation of the M3 generation took place by using an Augmented block design. The analysis of variance (M.S.S.) was conducted for the M3 generation considering various traits including days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of primary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, 100-seed weight (g), oil content (%), and seed yield per plant (g). The results of the analysis of variance revealed statistically significant for all the examined traits. This indicates that there is sufficient variability present among the genotypes and their respective component traits. The majority of the traits like plant height, number of seeds per capsule, 100-seed weight, oil content and yield per plant exhibited high PCV, GCV, heritability, and genetic advance. This suggests that genetic factors primarily influence these traits, and they are highly responsive to environmental conditions.