Assessment of Variability Parameters for Agro-morphological and Phyto-chemical Traits in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Germplasm

The variability parameters viz., genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV), heritability and genetic advance were studied for agro-morphological and phyto-chemical traits in 30 genotypes of basil during kharif 2004 and 2005. Tremendous variability was observed for agro-morphological as well as phyto-chemical characters. The high and medium values of GCV and PCV for seed yield/plant and spike length respectively, showed presence of maximum amount of variability in the germplasm. High heritability estimates were observed for seed yield/plant, leaf stem ratio, 1000 seed weight and plant height. These attributes may be improved further by selection. The estimates of high genetic advance were observed for fresh herbage yield per plant, seed yield per plant, plant height and dry yield/plant. The genetic advance as percentage of mean was recorded high for characters like leaf-stem ratio and spike length. The high estimates of genetic advance coupled with high heritability estimates for seed yield/plant, leaf stem ratio and plant height may be helpful in formulating the selection criteria for improvement of this important medicinal plant.