Abstract

                                Napier grass, being robust, quick growing perennial allotetraploid fodder crop with repeated cutting ability gains significance for sustaining the animal population and maintaining its productivity. Fifty six Napier grass genotypes were evaluated for character association and diversity analysis during Kharif 2020. The genotypes were significantly different for all the characters, which indicated scope for further genetic studies. High estimates of PCV and GCV were observed for PHT, LBH, LWT, CFT, ASH, DMY and GFY. Moderate estimates of PCV and GCV were observed for NOT, NOL, NON, ILH, SWT, ADF, CPN, DMC. High heritability along with high genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for PHT, NOT, NOL, NON, ILH, LLH, LBH, SGH, LWT, SWT, ADF, CPN, CFT, ASH, DMC, DMY and GFY indicating the predominance of additive gene effects in the inheritance of these characters except LSR, NDF and CFR. Traits like PHT, NOT, NOL, LLH, LBH, SGH, LWT, SWT, LSR, CPN, CFT, ASH, DMC and DMY had positive and significant correlation at genotypic level with GFY and the selection based on these traits will result in enhanced GFY. Most of the yield contributing traits like DMY, SWT and LSR exhibited positive direct effect on GFY. Genetic diversity among the genotypes was assessed based on Mahalanobis’s D2 statistics clustering approach. Based on Tocher’s method, the genotypes were classified into 10 clusters. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster VIII and VII (29.76) followed by VII and IV (28.96), X and VII (28.19) and cluster IX and VII (27.54). Therefore, the genotypes from the above clusters viz., FD 453/1, FD 467, FD 435, FD 446 and FD 445 could be used as parents for the development of high yielding Pearl millet Napier hybrids.

Key words : Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum L. Schumach.); Variability; Correlation; Path analysis; Genetic diversity; Mahalanobis’s D2 analysis