Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in French Marigold (Tagetes patula L.)

Genetic variability, heritabality and genetic advance were estimated for various vegetative and floral characters in 30 genotypes of French marigold (Tagetes patula). The studies showed high range for total yield per plant (59.08–559.35g), weight per flower (0.96–8.59g) and number of flowers per plant (35.33–206.0). The coefficient of variation (PCY and GCY) was maximum for weight per flower (PCY=59.75, GCY=59.49) and minimum for duration of flowering (PCY=11.08, GCY=10.84). The phenotypic coefficients of variations were higher than those of genotypic coefficient of variation, which indicate greater GxE interaction. High estimates of heritability (broad sense) were obtained for all the characters studied. The highest value of heritability was obtained for weight of flower per plant (99.1), plant-spread (99.0), and plant height (98.9). Thus, these characters can be improved through direct selection. In the present study, flower yield showed maximum genetic gain (233.99). High heritability along with high genetic gain was observed for number of flowers per plant (h² = 97.4, GA = 77.53) and total flower yield per plant (h² = 94.3, GA=233.99). High heritability with low genetic gain was observed for weight pcr flower (h² = 99.1, GA=4.02) and stalk length (h² = 96.6, GA=5.78). So, improvement in these characters could be brought about by practicing phenotypic selection.