Abstract

                                Genetic variability and correlation coefficients analyses were carried out in 305 fingermillet genotypes between 13 grain yield and yield related traits. Highly significant mean sum of squares due to genotypes and wide range of variability were noticed among the genotypes for all the characters studied. High values for phenotypic and genotypic coefficients were recorded for grain yield per plant and flag leaf blade length, indicating that more variability is present in the germplasm for these characters. All the characters recorded high heritability in the present study indicated that these characters were relatively less influenced by environmental factors and phenotypic selection would be effective for the improvement of these characters. High estimates of variability together with high heritability and high genetic advance were observed for flag leaf sheath width, flag leaf blade width and 1000 grain weight, which indicated that these characters were governed by additive genes and selection would be effective for improvement of such characters. Highly significant positive correlation observed for the characters like days to 50 per cent flowering, productive tillers per plant, plant height, 1000 grain weight, flag leaf sheath length, days to maturity, flag leaf blade length and finger width with grain yield per plant, indicated the possibility of simultaneous improvement of these characters by selection.

Key words : Fingermillet, Genetic variability, Correlation coefficient, Selection