Studies on Genetic Variability for Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn

Fifteen genotypes of finger millet were evaluated in a field study to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing traits. The analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences among the entries for all the traits studied. A wide range of variation was recorded for plant height (cm), days 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of tillers per plant, number of fingers per year, length of finger (cm), test weight (g), yield per plant (g), straw yield per plant (g). The phenotypic coefficient of variation was greater than genotypic coefficient of variation for all the characters studied which shows the influence of the environmental effect on the characters. High values for phenotypic coefficient and genotypic coefficient was recorded for yield per plant (g). High heritability and high genetic advance was recorded for iron content (mg/100g), yield per plant (g), calcium content (mg/100g) and test weight (g) indicating that these characters were controlled by additive gene effects. Selection based on these characters would be effective for future finger millet crop improvement program. Moderate heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance was observed for length of finger (cm) and protein content (%). Plant height (cm) showed low heritability as well as low genetic advance.