Phenotypic Diversity of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) Genotypes for Grain Yield Characters

Abstract

Analysis of variance showed high significant differences among 40 finger millet genotypes for all the characters under study. High GCV and PCV was recorded for number of tillers per plant, biological yield and peduncle length respectively suggesting that there was predominance of additive gene action. Number of tillers per plant, biological yield, peduncle length, harvest index, grain yield per plant, finger length, ear head length, Number of fingers, days to 50 % flowering exhibited  high  estimates  of heritability  with   high   genetic   advance, indicating   that   these  characters are predominantly  governed  by  additive  gene  action  and  selection  on the  basis  of  these characters would be more effective. Based on the relative magnitude of D2 value, the genotypes were grouped into 4 clusters. The maximum inter cluster distance was observed between clusters II and IV (25.95) followed by cluster II and III (12.16) and crosses involving genotypes from these clusters can be selected to yield superior segregants and future genetic improvement. Peduncle length, biological yield, days to 50% flowering and grain yield per plant appeared to be the most important trait contributing 79.11% towards genetic divergence.