Genetic Variability and Character Association in Advance Inbred Lines of Pearl Millet Under Optimal and Drought Condition

This study was conducted to investigate genetic variability among 50 advance inbred lines of pearl millet. The genotypes were evaluated for 15 growth traits, yield components, and grain yield. All the quantitative traits varied significantly among the tested genotypes. A wide range was observed for all parameters of genetic variability for all the traits. A higher PCV for various characters than its corresponding GCV suggested the role of considerable component of environment in the expression of all these characters. High to moderate heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean for dry fodder yield per plant, grain yield per plant indicated that selection will be effective for further improvements. Comparative mean performance for various traits of Bawal location (drought) and Hisar location (normal) revealed that the characters expression at Bawal was much reduced causing significant reduction in grain yield. The correlation coefficients revealed that estimated genotypic correlations for most of the characters were greater than their corresponding phenotypic ones. Results revealed that number of tillers per plant at Hisar location and dry fodder yield at Bawal location can be used as indirect selection criteria to increase the seed yield.

Keywords:

drought response index, heritability genetic advance, morpho-physiological traits,

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