Genetic variability studies in forage type hybrid parents of pearl millet

Abstract

One hundred and sixteen forage-type hybrid parents of pearl millet were investigated in summer season for two years, the results revealed that the traits like number of tillers and leaf to stem ratio (L/S) at first cut (50 days after planting); and dry forage yield (DFY) at second cut (30 days after first cut) had high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), hence selection will not be effective for these traits. Many of the desirable and undesirable forage quantity and quality linked traits under investigation had GCV almost equivalent to PCV, thus selection to improve those traits might be effective. High to moderate heritability coupled with high genetic advance per cent of mean (GA) was observed for plant height in both the cuts, indicating, this trait to be controlled by additive gene action and thus can be improved through selection, while, moderate heritability and high GA was observed for DFY at first cut; for green forage yield (GFY) at second cut and for total green forage yield (TGFY) from both the cuts, hence improvement in these traits will be possible through selection at later generations.