Characterization of foxtail millet germplasm collections for yield contributing traits

  • A. Nirmalakumari and M. Vetriventhan
Keywords: Foxtail Millet, germplasm, variation, grain yield, correlation, path analysis

Abstract

The evaluation of 741 germplasm accessions including some varieties was done during rabi, 2008-2009 at
Department of Millets, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore to determine the genetic variability, correlation and path analyses of yield and its components. Data
were recorded on various morphological traits such as days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height (cm), total
number of tillers, number of productive tillers, panicle length (cm), days to maturity and grain yield per plant.
Considerable diversity was observed for all accessions studied for all seven characters. Highest heritability,
genotypic coefficient of variation and genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded in grain yield per plant
and the lowest was recorded in days to 50 per cent flowering. In the present study, all seven characters studied
exhibited highly significant positive correlations with grain yield. The path analysis revealed that direct effect of
days to 50 per cent flowering on grain yield was positive and negligible. Direct effect of number of productive
tillers on grain yield was positive and high. Panicle length showed moderate positive direct effect on grain yield
and negligible indirect effects through other traits studied. This study indicates that, great yield advantage could
be achieved by using germplasm with more productive tillers, medium panicle length and medium duration. A
cluster analysis of 741 accessions of foxtail millet was carried out using DARwin5 for yield and yield
contributing traits. The population was grouped into nine clusters which shows wide range of variability in the
population.
Published
30-03-2010
How to Cite
A. Nirmalakumari and M. Vetriventhan
Characterization of foxtail millet germplasm collections for yield contributing traits. 2010. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 1 2, 140-147. Retrieved from https://ejplantbreeding.org/index.php/EJPB/article/view/1895
Issue
Vol 1 No 2 (2010)
Section
Research Article

It is certified that:

  • The corresponding author is fully responsible for any disputes arising due to the publication of his/her manuscript.
  • The article has been seen by all the authors who are satisfied with its form and content.
  • The sequence of names of authors in the by-line is as per their relative contribution to this experiment, giving due credit to all scientists who made notable contribution to it.
  • All the authors fully understand that inclusion of any other co-authors or exclusion of any co-authors is not possible once the article has been submitted to the journal.
  • The corresponding author takes full responsibility for this article.
  • The address of the organization where the research was conducted is given.
  • The article is exclusive for this journal, and the results reported here have not been sent (and will not be sent during its consideration by this journal) for publication in any other journal.
  • Authors agree to abide by the objective comments of referees and do agree to modify the article into a short note as per the recommendation, for publication in the Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding.
  • If published in Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, the copyright of this article would vest with the Indian Society of Plant Breeders, who will have the right to enter into any agreement with any organization in India or abroad engaged in reprography, photocopying, storage and dissemination of information contained in it, and neither we nor our legal heirs will have any claims on royalty.