Studies on Genetic Variability, Correlation and Path Analysis in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Ten genotypes i.e., PPMI-1279, PPMI-1317, PPMI-1313, PPMI-1318, PPMI-1308, PPMI-1310, PPMI-1319, PPMI-1273, PPMI-1288 and PPMI-1285 studied for genetic variability, correlation and path analysis for days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf breadth, leaf length, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf area, number of tillers per plant, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids, protein content, dry fodder yield per plant, green fodder yield per plant and grain yield per plant. The analysis of variance for the experiment with fifty five treatments for all the thirteen attributes viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf breadth, leaf length, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf area, number of tillers per plant, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids, protein content, dry fodder yield per plant, green fodder yield per plant and grain yield per plant exhibited significant differences among the material used in the present investigation, which indicated that wide spectrum of variation among the genotypes. The variance due to treatments was further partitioned in to their orthogonal components i.e., parents, crosses and parents vs crosses. Parents and crosses recorded highly significant differences for all the fourteen traits whereas parent’s vs crosses were found highly significant differences for all the characters except leaf breadth. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was high (more than 20%) observed for dry fodder yield per plant and green fodder yield, which indicating that more variability and scope for selection in improving these characters. High heritability accompanied with high genetic advance as percent of mean noted for number of tillers per plant, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids, protein content, dry fodder yield per plant, green fodder yield per plant and grain yield per plant. This indicated that these traits were highly heritable and selection of high performing genotypes is possible to improve these attributes. Grain yield exhibited significant stable and positive correlation with green fodder yield per plant, dry fodder yield per plant, leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant, leaf area, leaf length, leaf breadth and total soluble solids at genotypic and phenotypic level. These characters may be considered as important yield component in forage sorghum. Leaves per plant displayed high order of direct effect on green fodder yield followed by green fodder yield per plant, days to 50% flowering and leaf breadth at phenotypic and genotypic level, which indicated that the contribution of individual attributes to fodder yield is of importance in planning a sound breeding programme for developing for high yielding varieties.