* Author for correspondence: C/o. Dr. K. C. Patnaik,
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The nature and magnitude of genetic variability and their inter-relationship were studied for nut yield and its eleven component traits in 17 genotypes of cashewnut (Anacardium occidentale L.). High estimates of genotypic coefficients of variation, heritability and genetic advance were observed for sex ratio, fruit set, number of fruits and apple weight, indicating their reliability for effecting selections for high nut yield. Fruit set per panicle and single nut weight were the best contributors to nut yield per plant and further, the nut weight and apple weight showed high positive association with nutyield both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Hence, the studies revealed the importance of nut weight, fruit set and apple weight as selection criteria for improvement of nut yield in cashewnut.
Genetic variability, character association, nut yield, cashewnut