Abstract

A wide range of variability was observed for grain yield and its component characters in collection of 23 cultures of finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.). High genetic coefficients of variation were observed for grain yield and total number of ears per plant, whereas for productive tillers as well as tillers per plant, its esti- mates were moderate. Plant height, length of ear and number of fingers exhibited low estimates of genetic coefficients of variation. Moderate to high estimates of heritability (in broad sense) were obtained for almost all the characters studied. Grain yield and number of ears per plant possessed high heritability coupled with high estimates of genetic advance and hence selection at phenotypic level for these traits would be more effective.

Keywords: Finger millet, Variability, Heritability, Genetic advance.