Vol. 8, Special Issue 10, Part J (2024)

The present experiment was conducted to study the variability, heritability and genetic advance in F₂ segregating population of cross KJT-5-4-14 x Dokra-Dokri, taken up in augmented design at ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad during the Kharif-2022. Analysis of variance revealed the presence of significant differences for all 11 traits studies indicating the presence of genetic variability among the individuals studied. Higher values of PCV and GCV were observed for panicle weight, number of filled grains, number of unfilled grains, total grains per panicle, spikelet fertility and single plant yield possibility for genetic improvement of these traits through selection. PCV values are higher than GCV values indicating environmental effect on these traits further plant height, panicle weight, number of filled grains, number of unfilled grains, total grains per panicle, spikelet fertility, thousand grain weight and single plant yield recorded high heritability (>60%) associated with high genetic advance as % of mean (>20) resulting in minimum environmental influence on the expression and selection for improvement of such characters could be worthwhile. High heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance as % of mean was observed for panicle length propounding non-additive gene action in their inheritance suggesting heterosis breeding could be useful for improving these traits. Overall high PCV and GCV coupled with high heritability and high genetic advance as % of mean was noticed for panicle weight, number of filled grains, number of unfilled grains, total grains per panicle, spikelet fertility and single plant yield suggesting significant amount of variability with predominance of additive type of gene action. Hence, direct phenotypic selection would be effective for improvement of these traits even in early generations.