Abstract

A set of 60 genotypes comprising of 45 hybrids, five male sterile lines, nine pollinators and one standard check hybrid (GHB-744) were studied for genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of grain Fe, Zn, protein, grain yield and its five other component traits in pearl millet, at Jamnagar (Gujarat) during Kharif 2011-12. The analysis of variance revealed, highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the nine characters studied. The higher estimates of genotypic variance over environmental variance in all the characters under study except length of protogyny and days to maturity revealed that the variation among the genotypes had a genetic basis. The variability analysis revealed that grain Fe, Zn content, plant height and grain yield per plant had high magnitude of phenotypic range, genotypic co-efficient of variation, phenotypic co-efficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance per cent of mean, suggesting the importance of additive gene action. Hence, these characters can be improved through simple selection process.

Keywords: Pearl millet, GCV, PCV, Heritability, Genetic advance