Asian Basic and Applied Research Journal

The present investigation was undertaken to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield-associated traits in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link) genotypes. The study included thirteen important morphological and yield-related characters, namely days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of productive tillers per plant, number of leaves on the main tiller, peduncle length, ear length, finger length, number of fingers per ear, biological yield per plant, harvest index, 1000-seed weight and grain yield per plant. The estimates revealed considerable variation among the genotypes for most of the traits. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters, indicating the influence of environmental factors on trait expression. The highest GCV was recorded for peduncle length (12.55%), followed by biological yield per plant (12.39%), finger length (11.73%), 1000-seed weight (11.51%) and number of fingers per ear (11.12%). High broad-sense heritability was observed for finger length (83.70%), plant height (75.70%), peduncle length (66.40%), days to 50% flowering (66.00%) and biological yield per plant (64.50%). The highest genetic advance as a percentage of the mean was recorded for finger length (22.10%), followed by peduncle length (21.08%), biological yield per plant (20.50%) and 1000-seed weight (17.33%). High heritability coupled with relatively higher genetic advance for finger length and peduncle length indicated the predominance of additive genetic effects and suggested good scope for improvement through selection for these traits. The findings suggest that traits showing higher heritability and genetic advance can be effectively utilised as selection criteria in barnyard millet breeding programmes for improving grain yield and related attributes.