Genetic variability and association studies in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link) germplasm under sodic soil condition

摘要

Barnyard millet is one of the hardiest, climate resilient and fast growing crop that is bestowed with high nutrient content ingrains. An experiment was carried out in barnyard millet under natural sodic soil condition to study the genetic variabilityand association for different morphological and yield contributing traits. Ninety nine barnyard millet genotypes includingtwo commercial check varieties viz., MDU1 and CO (KV) 2 were evaluated under sodic soil condition. Analysis of variancerevealed significant variation for all the characters studied. High phenotypic coefficient of variation, genotypic coefficient ofvariation and heritability were recorded for plant height, ear width, lower raceme length, flag leaf length, flag leaf width andgrain yield per plant. Association studies indicated that grain yield per plant had highly significant positive correlation withdays to fifty percent flowering, days to maturity, ear width and thousand grain weight. Path coefficient analysis indicatedthat the highest direct and indirect effect on grain yield per plant was exhibited by days to fifty percent flowering. Thus, daysto fifty percent flowering, days to maturity, ear width and thousand grain weight can be used as selection indices forincreasing grain yield of barnyard millet in sodic soil.