Genetic Variability, Heritability Estimates and Trait Association Studies for Yield and its Determinants in Indigenous Collection of Finger Millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn] Genotypes

The study aimed to assess genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for seventeen quantitative traits. ANOVA indicated highly significant differences among the genotypes for all quantitative traits studied. The field experiment was carried out during Kharif 2022 and 2023 at the Student Research Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India using 50 finger millet genotypes. Significant phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for culm thickness, biological yield, sheath width, and flag leaf blade width. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for plant height, biological yield, days to 50% flowering, peduncle length, culm thickness, and finger length, suggesting the possibility of selection-based improvement. There was a strong positive and significant correlation between grain yield and ear head length, number of fingers per ear, number of leaves per plant, biological yield per plant and days to maturity and flag leaf blade length. Flag leaf blade length, ear head length, number of fingers per ear, biological yield per plant, harvest index, culm thickness, sheath width and finger length directly affect grain yield at phenotypic and genotypic path levels. The outcomes emphasize the potential of exploiting genetic variability in finger millet to strengthen breeding pipelines aimed at producing cultivars with enhanced productivity and adaptability under diverse growing conditions.