Vol. 10, Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
Kesoju Ravali, JE Jahagirdar and RR Dhutmal

Abstract:
The studies pertaining to the genetic variability present in a crop species were useful for effective selection. Crop improvement through breeding studies mostly depends on the presence of desirable variation as well as the amount of that variation which is heritable. Therefore the primary requirement for initiating any breeding program for crop improvement is the knowledge pertaining to genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance. The genetic variability study carried out for yield and yield contributing traits in thirty seven genotypes of rabi sorghum with three checks namely M 35-1, Phule Suchitra and CSV-22-R at Sorghum Research Station, V.N.M.K.V., Parbhani during rabi 2019. The objective of this investigation is to estimate the genetic variability for the quantitative traits. A randomized block design was used with three replications and these treatments were evaluated and data pertaining to eight traits was recorded. This investigation revealed presence of highly significant differences among the genotypes indicating presence of large amount of variability in all the eight characters studied. Current study indicated presence of higher estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for all the traits when compared to genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and these estimates are of lower magnitude. Among the forty genotypes studied VJV 107, VJV 106, PEC 30, RSV 1921, RSV 1945 and RSV 1984 recorded better performance and these are considered as the superior genotypes. Higher estimates of GCV and PCV recorded for the traits like third leaf area, flag leaf area, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading at 50 percent flowering, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading at physiological maturity, relative water content whereas high heritability coupled with moderate to high genetic advance is observed for traits like third leaf area, flag leaf area, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading at 50 percent flowering, SPAD chlorophyll meter reading at physiological maturity, relative water content.