Genetic variability and divergence studies in Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn] germplasm

Abstract

A total 158 finger millet accessions were evaluated to study the genetic diversity with the nature and magnitude of genetic divergence using Mahalanobis (1936) D2 statistics. Genotypic and phenotypic variances, coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance were estimated and cluster analysis was performed. The data was recorded on fifteen traits. The one hundred fifty eight genotypes were grouped into XIII clusters. Clusters I was the largest with 58 genotypes. Maximum heritability was observed for iron content (99.8%) followed by calcium content (99.7%), days to maturity (98.6%), days to 50% flowering (97.2%), seed yield per plant (93.7%), finger number per panicle (92.7%) and flag leaf sheath width (91.8%). Genetic advance as per cent of mean ranged from 5.425 to 137.52. Since there is significant variability observed in all the finger millet genotypes, this could be used for genetic improvement through selection and hybridization.