Heritability and Genetic Advance in Induced Mutants of Lentil (Lens Culinaris Med.)

Range of variability and estimates of heritability, genetic advance and net genetic gain for yield and its components are reported from 40 induced mutants of Lens culinaris Med. Heritability estimate was highest for days taken to maturity which was followed by those for plant height, test weight, grain yield and pods per plant, whereas the values for number of branches, number of leaves and seeds per pod were comparatively lower. Genetic advance expressed as percentage of mean was highest for grain yield, followed by number of pods per plant and test weight. Very high values of net genetic gain were obtained for leaf number and pod numbers, while genetic gain was moderately high for days to flower and plant height, and low for seed yield.