Genetic variability, heritability and character association among yield and yield attributing traits in oats (Avena sativa L)

Abstract

Thirty eight of diverse genotypes oat (Avena sativa L.) were evaluated to examine the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation, path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence during rabi 2015-16. Observations were recorded for days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of leaves per plant, flag leaf area, number of tillers per plant, stem girth, number of green pods per spike, length of spike, leaf stem ratio, dry fodder yield and green fodder yield per plant. Analysis of variance revealed substantial amount of variability among the genotypes for all the characters under study, indicated wide spectrum of variability among the genotypes. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were revealed number of leaves per plant, stem girth, number of green pods per spike, leaf stem ratio, dry fodder yield per plant and green fodder yield per plant, indicating the preponderance of additive gene effects for these traits and hence may prove useful for effective selection. Green fodder yield showed significant and strong positive correlation with plant height, flag leaf area, stem girth and dry fodder yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Therefore, these characters are useful to the breeders in selecting suitable plant type. Path coefficient analysis exhibited high positive and direct influence of number of leaves per plant, dry fodder yield per plant, stem girth and flag leaf area towards green fodder yield. By improving number of leaves per plant, flag leaf area, stem girth and dry fodder yield per plant, the green fodder yield in oats might be improved. Those traits were influenced green fodder yield via other traits, should also be given importance while improving the green fodder yield in oats. The inter cluster distances were higher than intra cluster distances suggesting presence of high genetic diversity between lines of any two cluster than the lines present within the cluster. Cluster II is characterized by line having maximum number of prominent traits studied and contributed more towards divergence, so the direct selection for these would be helpful. The study provided the opportunity to identify genotypes to be used in future breeding programme.