Genetic Variability, Character Association, Path Coefficient and Genetic Divergence Analysis in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L. Beauv) Genotypes

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate genetic variability, character association, path coefficient analysis and genetic divergence among eight foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) genotypes, including one check variety. The experiment was conducted in a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications during the rabi season. Observations were recorded for twenty-five quantitative traits, including plant height, leaf length, leaf width, panicle length, peduncle length, stem diameter, leaf area index, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, panicle weight, biological yield, harvest index and seed yield per plant. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters studied, indicating substantial genetic variability. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean was observed for leaf area index at 30 DAS (78.57% and 228.57%), leaf area index at 90 DAS (66.67% and 157.39%), stem diameter at 30 DAS (73.19% and 123.52%), stem diameter at 60 DAS (67.15% and 105.86%) and seed yield per plant (79.98% and 29.38%), suggesting the predominance of additive gene action and the potential effectiveness of selection for these traits. Seed yield per plant was positively associated with harvest index, panicle length at 60 DAS, leaf area index at 30 DAS and panicle weight at the genotypic level. Path coefficient and genetic divergence analyses were undertaken to assess direct trait effects and diversity, respectively. Among the evaluated genotypes, K4 (V7) recorded the highest seed yield per plant (7.34 g), whereas GPL-11 (V3) exhibited the highest panicle weight (15.00 g). These genotypes may therefore constitute useful genetic resources for breeding programmes aimed at developing high-yielding foxtail millet cultivars.