Genetic variability for plant type and seed yield components among recombinant inbred lines in pigeonpea

Abstract

Genetic variability for plant type and seed yield components among 318 recombinant inbred lines of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L) Millspaugh] was studied during the Kharif season of 2017-18 and 2018-19. The characters studied include plant height, the number of primary branches, the number of secondary branches, days to flowering, and days to maturity, the number of pods per plant, the number of seeds per pod, pod bearing length and branching angle with the main axis. Significant genetic variability was observed among the recombinant inbred lines. Remarkable genotypic differences were found for many of the traits under study. The recombinant inbred line population studied under two environments showed less genotype and environment interaction. The difference between the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) is less indicating high heritability of the traits under study and control of additive gene action. The genetic advance over the percentage of the mean was also high for all the traits under study. From the study, it was inferred that genotypes with determinate plant types with a greater number of pod and primary branches early flowering and early maturing with high seed weight and acute branching angle play a significant role in enhancing the yield.

Keywords

• genetic variability
• descriptive statistics
• gcv
• pcv
• heritability
• genetic advance
• and genetic advance over mean.