Study of genetic diversity in fodder oats (Avena sativa L.) for green fodder yield and quality traits

Abstract

Thirty four oat genotypes were evaluated for Genetic Diversity Studies of oat at Forage Research Farm, RVC, Birsa Agriculture University, Ranchi. The field experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) in three replications and data were recorded for fourteen morphological, quality and yield attributing traits. Data were analysed to find out variability, heritability (broad sense), genetic advance and genetic diversity using D2 analysis. The magnitude of PCV was greater than GCV for all characters indicating environmental interference in the expression of characters. High heritability with high genetic advance expressed in percentage of mean was observed in Crude Protein% and number of tillers per meter length. Wide range of variability was found in days to 50% flowering, plant height and number of tillers per meter length. Maximum intra-cluster distance was registered by cluster XI and the clusters VII and XIII recorded highest inter cluster distance. So parents from these clusters can be used in future hybridization programs.