<p>The variability and genetic architecture was assessed deploying 13 important quantitative characters of 478 cashew germplasm<br />accessions evaluated and conserved in National Cashew Field Gene Bank, Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur in India.<br />Considerable variability was observed for all characters and the highest co-efficient of variation (CV) was observed for sex ratio<br />followed by cumulative yield per plant and apple weight. The lowest CV was observed for shelling percentage followed by shell<br />thickness. Frequency distribution patterns showed highly positively skewed distribution for characters such as nut weight, sex<br />ratio, apple weight and apple to nut ratio. Genetically, it is evident that decreasing alleles are in excess and dominant for these<br />characters. Tree spread, kernel weight and cumulative yield per plant showed moderately positively skewed distribution indicating<br />decreasing alleles are in slight excess and dominant. Flowering intensity showed moderately negative skewed distribution indicating<br />the presence of increasing alleles in slight excess and their dominant nature. Tree height, shell thickness, flowering duration,<br />shelling percentage and leaf area showed approximately symmetric distribution indicating increasing and decreasing alleles are in<br />equal proportion and the dominance is ambi-directional. Significant positive correlations with cumulative yield per plant were<br />observed for tree height, tree spread, sex ratio, flowering duration, apple to nut ratio, shelling percentage and leaf area and<br />significant negative correlation for shell thickness. The present germplasm collection represents sufficient number of accessions<br />for both quantitative and qualitative characters in desired direction. However, based on the frequency distribution patterns, it is<br />imperative to collect germplasm with dwarfness, less tree spread, high nut weight, apple weight and high yield.</p>