Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

By : H.K. Meena, K. Ram Krishna, Bhuri Singh

Page No: 13-16

Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during kharif season 2013 to evaluate 72 genotypes of cowpea to estimate genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of ten quantitative characters. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant difference among genotypes for all the characters indicated that considerable amount of genetic variability was present in the experimental material which can be exploited for improvement of seed yield in cowpea. Genotypic and phenotypic variance were recorded highest for plant height (358.69, 378.69) followed by pod wall proportion (38.30, 41.27) and lowest for primary branches per plant (0.30, 0.50). High GCV and PCV were recorded for plant height (38.65, 39.70) followed by 100-seed weight (25.68, 26.21) and pod wall proportion (20.49, 21.24). Whereas, moderate estimate of GCV and PCV were recorded for seed yield per plant (15.93, 18.76) followed by pods per plant (14.86, 19.69), pod length (14.93, 16.28), primary branches per plant (12.77, 16.77) and seeds per pod (12.98, 14.76). High estimates of heritability along with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for 100-seed weight (95.95, 51.81) and plant height (94.78, 77.52) which indicated major role of additive gene action in the expression of these characters while high heritability along with moderate genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for pod wall proportion, seed yield per plant and pod length which indicated these characters was mainly governed by non additive gene action.

Authors :
H.K. Meena, K. Ram Krishna and Bhuri Singh : Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, S. K. N. College of Agriculture (Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University) Jobner-303329, Jaipur, Rajasthan.