Assessment of Genetic Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance, and Diversity Analysis for Morpho Physiological Traits in Finger Millet [Eleusine coracana (l.) Gaertn.]

The study, conducted during the Kharif season of 2022, aimed to evaluate genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, and diversity for morpho-physiological traits in finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) using 39 genotypes. Significant genetic variation was identified for all studied traits through variance analysis. While moderate to high values of Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) and Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) were observed for most traits, exceptions were noted for days to 50 percent flowering, days to maturity, relative water content in leaves, and chlorophyll stability index. The study revealed high heritability with moderate to high genetic advance as a percent of the mean for most traits, suggesting the prevalence of additive gene effects. However, chlorophyll stability index and relative water content exhibited lower values. D2 analysis indicated the existence of sufficient genetic diversity among the genotypes. The genotypes were categorized into five distinct non-overlapping clusters. Cluster I, the largest cluster with 35 genotypes, displayed maximum intra-cluster distance. Clusters V and III had the highest inter-cluster distances, Days to maturity played a significant role in overall divergence. The findings suggest that a direct selection approach in finger millet landraces could lead to a substantial increase in yield response. This research provides valuable insights into the genetic characteristics of finger millet genotypes, offering a foundation for targeted breeding programs to enhance crop improvement.