Genetic var iability and cor relation coeff icient in F₂ segregating population of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Genetic variability was studied in seven diverse crosses of basil (Ocimum basil icum) in the F₂ segregating generations. A high range of coeff icient of variation was observed for dry herb yield and fresh herb yield/plant, leaf area and number of branches. The magnitude of expected genetic advance in F₂ population was higher for some traits such as number of inflorescence in all crosses, except to CI and CII, days to maturity in cross I, II I, VI and VI I, fresh herb yield in cross VII, dry herb yield in cross VI, and oil content in cross VI. High values of genetic advance wi th high heritabi lity were achieved in trai ts such as fresh herb yield per plant, dry herb yield per plant indicating the involvement of addi tive gene action in the inheri tance of these trai ts. Oil content showed highly signif icant positive correlation with all the characters excepting number of branches, days to flowering and dry herb yield in different F₂ crosses. Fresh herb yield per plants showed positive correlation in al l F₂ crosses wi th al l the trai ts such as oi l content, plant height in cross II, V and VII, number of branches in cross IV and VI I. However, fresh herb yield per plant showed desirable signi f icant correlation with oi l yield and i ts contributing traits, indicating that high fresh herb yield per plant directly correlates with high oil content in the concerned genotypes. The results suggested that the higher dry herb yield per plant would be the most valuable for these traits.