Assessment of Genetic Variability for Nutrient Status in Grain and Leaves of Amaranthus Genotypes

Abstract

In the present investigation 18 different genotypes of amaranthus were analyzed for nutrient status and noticeable range of major nutrients were reported in leaves and grains. The phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation was maximum for leaf color constituent b* i.e., 63.76 and 63.76 while, minimum in case of leaf moisture i.e., 6.62 and 3.03, respectively. High heritability was observed for all the traits, maximum was recorded for leaf color constituent b* (100%) and minimum was observed for leaf moisture (70.09%). High heritability (h2 = 99.19%) with high genetic advance (GA=73.90%) as percentage of mean was observed for leaf vitamin C, which indicated that additive gene effects were more important for that trait. High genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for leaf color constituent b* (131.34) however, lowest for days to leaf moisture (5.23) which indicates the preponderance of additive genes and selection will be effective for improvement of these traits having high heritability with genetic advance as percent of mean.