Genetic variability study in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. for green fodder yield and related traits

• Main Author: Nagendra Kanwar Bika and S. S. Shekhawat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Indian Society of Plant Breeders 2015-06-01
• Series: Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding
• Subjects: Pearl millet; Genetic variability; heritability
• Online Access: https://sites.google.com/site/ejpb2014/vol-6-2/EJPB_V6_N2-600-602-222-656-1.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1

A field experiment was carried out in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) with 30 genotypes including three check varieties, to study genetic variability for green fodder yield and its related characters. The observations were recorded on individual plant basis for five randomly selected plants of each genotype for each replication for plant height, leaf length, leaf width, stem thickness, internode length and spike length. Days to 50% flowering, number of tillers per meter row length, dry matter per cent, dry matter yield, leaf area, green fodder yield and ash content were observed on plot basis. The results revealed that the genotypes were significantly different for all the 13 characters, indicating sufficient variability in the experimental material. The characters dry matter yield, leaf: stem ratio, green fodder yield, leaf area, spike length and number of tillers per meter row length showed high GCV and PCV. High estimates of heritability along with high genetic advance (% of mean) were observed for number of tillers per meter row length, leaf stem ratio, spike length, green fodder yield, dry matter yield and leaf area. Therefore, selection for these characters will be more effective.