Variability for agromorphological traits, genetic parameters, correlation and path coefficient analyses in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Abstract

Understanding phenotypic and genotypic variability of Bangladeshi lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) in relation to exotic lentil is important in attempting to widen the genetic base of the germplasm in the country. An experiment was conducted using 30 diverse lentil genotypes to study the agromorphological and genetic variability, heritability, expected genetic advance and inter-relationship of ten yield attributing traits. The genotypes showed highly significant (p<0.01) variations for all of the studied traits. These characters also had higher phenotypic co-efficient of variation (PCV) than those of the corresponding genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV). High heritability (ranged from 66-98%) was found among the traits. Seed yield plant-1 and number of seeds plant-1 showed high heritability accompanied with high genetic advance (as percent mean). Correlation coefficient studies revealed that number of pods plant-1, number of seeds plant-1 and 100-seed weight contributed to highly significant (p<0.01) positive correlation with seed yield plant-1. Days to 50% flowering and days to maturity were showed highly significant negative correlation with seed yield plant-1. Path analysis showed the highest positive direct effects of 100-seed weight followed by the number of secondary branches plant-1 and number of seeds plant-1 on seed yield plant-1. Days to 50% flowering via 100-seed weight contributed the highest negative indirect effect on seed yield plant-1. Maximum negative direct effect of plant height and days to 50% flowering was observed on seed yield plant-1. Results indicated that the exotic accessions could be effective for the improvement of the yield of lentil.