Study on Genetic Variability for Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

Abstract

The present study was conducted to estimate the extent of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance. The experimental material comprising of 40 linseed genotypes were evaluated at Experimental Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Latur during Rabi-2023. The material was sown in Randomized block design with two replications with the spacing of 30 cm x 5 cm. Observations were recorded for ten characters viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seed per capsule, 1000 seed weight (g), harvest index (%), oil content (%) and seed yield per plant (g).  Analysis of variance showed substantial amount of genetic variability had been found for all the characters, which was indicated by significant differences among and between treatments. The magnitude of genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation was found to be high for the number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, harvest index and seed yield per plant. The highest broad sense heritability values were certainly found for all ten characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean were associated with characters days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, 1000 seed weight, harvest index and seed yield per plant which indicated that heritability is most likely due to additive gene effects and simple phenotypic selection may be effective.