Genetic variability and association analysis in barnyard millet mutants

Abstract

The present study was carried out using 40 mutants along with two check varieties CO(Kv)2 and MDU1 duringKharif  2019. Sixteen characters were studied and out of which only 11 traits showed significant variation.Correlation and path analysis were done for 11 traits viz., number of basal tillers, days to fifty percent flowering,flag leaf length, panicle length, plant height, number of raceme, number of productive tillers, number of leavesin main tiller, average leaves in side tiller, single ear head weight and single plant yield. Among the elevenbiometrical traits, high heritability was recorded by traits such as number of basal tillers, days to fifty percentflowering, flag leaf length, plant height, number of racemes, number of productive tillers, number of leaves inmain tiller, single ear head weight and single plant yield. Correlation studies showed that number of productivetillers, single ear head weight and plant height possess significant positive correlation with yield at both genotypicand phenotypic level. Path analysis showed that traits like number of basal tillers, single ear head weight andpanicle length had high direct effect on yield. Thus, selection of these traits would be rewarding for yieldimprovement in barnyard millet.