Department of Vegetable Science, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur 176 062
The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were high for leaf area, number of spears, plant weight, terminal head weight, head compactness, marketable yield/plant and mean spear weight. High heritability estimates along with high genetic advance (expressed as percentage of mean) for marketable yield/plant, terminal head weight, plant height up to leaf and head, head size index, number of spears, mean spear weight, plant weight and leaf area indicated the role of additive gene action for these traits. Moderate heritability observed with high genetic advance for head compactness suggested presence of both additive and non-additive gene action. High heritability associated with low genetic advance for days to marketable maturity and moderate heritability coupled with low genetic advance for stem diameter and harvest index may be attributed to non-additive gene action. The genotypes, EC 376116, Bl 80345 and EC 376056, showed high mean performance for marketable yield/plant and some of the component traits, can be further tested for direct use as cultivars or may be involved in breeding programmes.
