BIOINFOLET - A Quarterly Journal of Life Sciences

Present investigation was undertaken to assess genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for grain yield and its component characters, in 52 genotypes of rabi sorghum. It was observed that the values for PCV and GCV were more or less equal in magnitude for the characters viz., plant height, leaf length, leaf width, panicle length, grain weight per plant and fodder weight per plant, suggesting the least influence of environment in the expression of these characters. The estimates of heritability in broad sense were high for characters, grain weight per plant (98.10%), fodder weight per plant (96.30%), panicle length (91.80%), leaf width (91.70%), plant height (89.40%), indicating effectiveness of the selection which was based on phenotypic performance. With regard to genetic advance, higher genetic advance was reported for the characters, fodder weight per plant, shootfly dead heart %, panicle length and leaf width. This indicated the presence of additive gene effect. These characters exhibiting high variability, heritability and genetic advance can be useful in rabi sorghum improvement program for enhancement in the yield.