Selection criteria for improving yield and its components in table pea (Pisum sativum)

Fifteen F1^s of table pea (Pisum sativam L.) derived from 6 parental diallel cross excluding reciprocals were evaluated for days to flowering, plant height, branches plant⁻¹, pods plant⁻¹, pod length, pod width, first fruiting node, number of seeds pod⁻¹, shelling percentage and green pod yield plant⁻¹. Highest phenotypic coefficient of variability was observed for branches plant⁻¹ (25.76%), while lowest for plant height (6.95%). The higher differences between these two were observed for number of seeds pod⁻¹, pods plant⁻¹ and branches plant⁻¹. High broad sense heritability estimates were observed for all the traits. Genetic advance was high for green pod yield (37.19 g), followed by days to flowering and plant height and low for pod width, branches plant⁻¹, number of seeds pod⁻¹ and pod length. The genetic advance in per cent over mean revealed that branches plant⁻¹ followed by days to flowering, green pod yield and pods plant⁻¹ were most important characters for improving the yield of table pea genotypes as these characters showed maximum genetic gain.