Genetic variability studies for yield and yield components in kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)

Abstract

The experimental material comprised of one hundred and three germplasm accessions of kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.) were evaluated to assess the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for fifteen yield component traits. Analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences among the accessions for all the traits studied. The coefficient of variation at phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) levels were high for Zn content, grain yield per plant, Fe content, number of productive tillers and thumb length. Broad sense heritability ranged from 54.18 per cent for length of the longest raceme to 97.30 per cent for days to 50 per cent flowering. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for plant height, number of basal tillers, number of productive tillers, flag leaf width, inflorescence length, thumb length, Zn content, Fe content and grain yield per plant which indicates that these traits are under the influence of additive gene effects and selection may be effective for these characters.