Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

An investigation was undertaken to study the genetic variability and heritability in seventeen Gomphrena genotypes. Highest range of variation was reported for the number of leaves/plant (211.60-1575.80). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was maximum for plant spread, i.e, 42.63 and 41.46 while, minimum in case of days to first flower bud initiation, i.e, 6.99 and 6.62, respectively. High heritability was observed for all the characters except days to first flower bud initiation, days to first flowering, days to 50 per cent flowering and duration of flowering. Maximum heritability was recorded for seed yield per plant (99.64%) and minimum was observed in individual flower weight (48.11). High heritability (h2 = 99.90) with high genetic advance (GA= 80.74) as percentage of mean was observed for stalk length, which indicated that additive gene effects were more important for that trait. High genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for plant spread (83.05) however, lowest for days to first flower bud initiation (12.93) which indicates the preponderance of additive genes and selection will be effective for improvement of these traits.