Genetic Studies based on Selected Morpho-physiological Parameters in Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

The experiment was planned to study genetic variability and association among different morpho-physiological traits. Forty five genotypes derived from five intervarietal crosses with variable plant and pod characteristics were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications during winter 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Palampur. Significant differences were observed among all genotypes for all the characters over years. High GCV and PCV along with high heritability (>60%) and genetic advance (>30%) were observed for pods/plant and pod yield/plant during respective years, suggesting additive gene inheritance and selection in early generations would be effective. Significant positive correlation of pod yield/plant was recorded with internodal length (0.235), seeds/pod (0.441), shelling percentage (0.306), pods/plant (0.885) and average pod weight (0.349). The positive association was mainly due to direct effects of these traits with pod yield/plant (0.90 and 0.43, respectively) and also indirectly contributed for positive association with other traits. Therefore, these traits provide an important criterion of selection procedures for achieving enhanced performance of garden pea genotypes for higher pod yield.