Genetic Variability Estimation in Forty Pigeonpea Germplasm for Yield and Yield Attributing Traits

Aim: The present research aimed to estimate the genetic variability in forty pigeonpea germplasms for yield and yield-attributing traits such as initial plant stand, final plant stand, days to 50% flowering, primary branches, secondary branches, plant height, days to maturity, wilt incidence%, pod borer infestation %, 100 seed weight, number of pods per plant, yield (g/plot), yield (kg/ha).

Study Design: study was conducted in randomised block desigh (RBD) design with two replications and spacing of 60 cm X 30 cm.

Place and Duration of Study: The present investigation was carried out during kharif 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 at the research farm of Birsa Agricultural University farm located at Kanke, Ranchi.

Methodology: Forty pigeonpea genotypes were studied to determine genetic variability. Pooled data over two years were subjected to statistical analysis for estimation of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), heritability in broad sense (h2), and genetic advance as a percent of mean for fourteen quantitative traits such as initial plant stand, final plant stand, days to 50% flowering, primary branches, secondary branches, plant height, days to maturity, wilt incidence%, pod borer infestation%, 100 seed weight.

Results: The PCV varied from 2.45% (days to maturity) to 30.83% [yield (kg/ha), whereas the GCV ranged from 1.12% (days to maturity) to 17.67% [yield (g/plot)]. Days to 50% flowering (6.39%, 4.48%), days to maturity (2.45%, 1.12%), and 100 seed weight (8.53%, 5.65%) all had low GCV and PCV value. The broad sense of heritability (h2) varied between plant height (16.9%) to days to 50% blooming (49.20%). Plant height (16.90%, 4.95%), number of pods per plant (21.10%, 9.95%), and days to maturity (20.90%, 1.05%) showed low heritability and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean, indicating ineffective selection.

Conclusion: Genotypes showed high magnitude of variability for all the traits under study.