**ORP, Bhachau (Kutch).
Department of Horticulture, Gujarat Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat)
Present address: *Professor and Head, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Anand.
The nature and magnitude of genetic variability was studied in thirty-three varieties of banana. High genetic coefficient of variation was observed for bunch weight, finger weight, plant height, fingers per bunch, hands per bunch and days lo ripen. All the characters under study exhibited high broad sense heritability estimates. Since plant height, hands per bunch, bunch weight and finger weight and high genetic coefficient of variation along with high expected genetic advance as well as high heritability, improvement in these characters can be brought out by practicising clonal selection. High yielding varieties such as ‘Basrai’ and ‘Lacatan’ are recommended for general cultivation in the banana growing tracts of Gujarat state.
