Abstract
Aim:
The present investigation was planned to evaluate the finger millet genotypes
for genetic variability, genotypic relatedness, an association between
traits, and their direct effect on increasing grain and fodder yield.
Methodology: The present investigation was planned to evaluate
the finger millet genotypes for genetic variability, genotypic relatedness,
an association between traits, and their direct effect on increasing grain
and fodder yield.
Results:
Analysis revealed a high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) to the
number of productive tillers per plant (57.98%), grain yield per plot
(49.38%), number of heads per plot (49.27%) and number of fingers per head
(45.54%). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of
mean was observed for the number of heads per plot. Grain yield exhibited a
significantly high positive correlation with fodder yield per plant (rg:
0.98), number of heads per plot (rg: 0.89) and harvest index (rg:
0.78). Fodder yield per plant, harvest index, single head weight, number of
heads per plot and days to final harvest had a high direct positive effect on
grain yield. The PCA separated total genetic variation into six components
and covered almost 85.0% of genetic variation. Genotypes were grouped into
four main groups and several subgroups based on Euclidean distances.
Interpretation: The higher magnitude of GCV,
heritability coupled with high genetic advance for a trait of interest;
strong correlation between dependent and independent traits would be
desirable for productivity enhancement in finger millet. The additive gene
effect would also be rewarding by direct phenotypic selection.
Key words: Finger millet, Genetic diversity, Principle
component analysis
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