Genetic architecture of morpho-physiological traits over environments in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Thirty pearl millet accessions including inbreds and hybrids procured from ICRISAT, Hyderabad were evaluated during summer 2017 over three sowing dates. The wide range of phenotypic variation was noted in an individual and pooled environment for all fourteen qualitative and quantitative traits. Higher estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed over the genotypic coefficient of variation for the number of effective tillers per plant, grain yield per plant, number of total tillers per plant, harvest index, leaf area, test weight and seed setting on main tiller. The high GCV (%) and PCV (%) were obtained for most of the traits. High heritability was associated with high genetic advance (% mean) for plant height, dry fodder yield, earhead girth and length, leaf area, grain yield, test weight, harvest index and number of total tillers per plant suggesting additive gene action for inheritance and could be improved through selection. The trait grain yield was positively and highly significantly correlated with earhead girth, seed setting on main tiller, plant height, leaf area, dry fodder yield, test weight, number of total tillers per plant, number of effective tillers per plant and harvest index at genotypic, phenotypic and environmental levels. The path coefficient analysis concluded that the desirable ideotype for improving grain yield should possess maximum earhead girth, more number of effective tillers with moderate plant height and flowering time.