Genetic studies for parental selection among brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) varieties

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate twenty brinjal varieties for suitable parent selection in yield aspects at Horticulture Experiment Station, Department of Horticulture, National Post Graduate Collage, Barhalganj, Gorakhpur (U.P.), India (U.P.) during Sep-2017 to Feb-2018. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The observations were recorded on thirteen quantitative and qualitative traits. The mean data were subjected to the various statistical and biometrical analyses. Analysis of variance indicates that twenty diverse varieties of brinjal differed significantly for the thirteen traits. The highest estimate of phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficient of variation were recorded in case of Avg. Fruit Weight (gm) (PCV=35.71) and (GCV=34.80) followed by Avg. Yield/ Plant (kg) (PCV= 28.60) and (GCV=27.53), and Fruit Circumference (cm) (PCV =26.19) and (GCV=24.96) while Days to 50% Flowering exhibited lowest value (11.02 and 7.82). The presences of high heritability with high genetic advance in per cent of mean were observed for Avg. Fruit Weight (gm) (94.95 and 69.85), Avg. Yield/ Plant (kg) (92.62 and 54.58), Fruit Circumference (cm) (90.81 and 49.00), No. of Primary Branches/ Plant (90.08 and 45.77) and No. of Fruits/Plant (89.50 and 45.12) exhibiting additive gene effect and selection for these traits is reliable for further breeding programme. Selection of suitable parents is an important criteria for success of crop improvement programme.