Identifying prominent genotypes and yield contributing traits in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Abstract

The knowledge about genetic variability and determining the criteria for employing effective selection is always prerequisite to develop a sound breeding programme. Therefore, the present experiment was conducted with 35 genotypes of finger millet in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three (03) replications and observations were recorded for morphological and quality traits. The analysis of variance exhibited substantial degree of variability among the genotypes for all the traits under study. The higher value of phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) than genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) for all the traits under study indicated the influence of environment on expression of these traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean suggested that direct selection for the traits viz. iron content, test weight, calcium content, finger length, protein content, flag leaf area and days to 80% maturity may be carried out as these traits have preponderance of additive gene action. Similarly, character association results depicted that direct selection for the traits viz. flag leaf area, test weight, biological yield/plant, harvest index and iron content will be effective for tangible advancement in grain yield of this important millet. Further, Genetic divergence study for identifying such promising genotypes revealed that among the seven clusters, Cluster III and cluster VII were most divergent hence genotypes viz., MLS 1, MLS 5, GPU 67, VL 376 and Indira Ragi from these clusters may throw useful segregates in upcoming generations.