Studies on Genetic Variability in Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) Germplasm Collections

Abstract

Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) is a short-duration minor cereal valued for its adaptability to marginal environments and nutritional attributes. The present investigation, entitled “Genetic Variability in Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) Germplasm”, was conducted during Kharif 2025 at the Student Instruction Farm, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The study assessed the nature and magnitude of genetic variability, character associations, direct and indirect effects, genetic divergence and principal component profiles among 42 barnyard millet genotypes, comprising 39 germplasm accessions and three checks (VL207, VL172 and PRJ1). The experimental material was evaluated in a randomised block design with three replications. Observations were recorded for six qualitative morphological traits and 15 quantitative traits, including yield, yield-related attributes, fodder biomass and nutritional components. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was marginally higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for most traits, indicating some environmental influence on trait expression. High broad-sense heritability (H²), coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (GAM), was recorded for stay dry weight (H² = 97.40%, GAM = 34.59%), seed yield per plant (H² = 96.80%, GAM = 25.48%) and raceme length (H² = 96.00%, GAM = 21.12%). These results indicate the predominance of additive gene action and suggest that these traits can be effectively improved through phenotypic selection. Conversely, protein content showed low heritability and low genetic advance (H² = 2.20%, GAM = 0.58%), indicating the influence of non-additive gene action and environmental effects.