Genetic variability studies in rabi pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.)

This study aims to identify varieties/genotypes with high yield and production and suitable for rabi season. The present experiment was conducted in rabi season for determining genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, and correlation among yield and its contributing traits in forty four genotypes of pigeon pea. The analysis of variance revealed that mean squares due to genotypes were highly significant for all the characters under study which indicated that there were inherent genotypic differences among the genotypes. Per se performance, range and coefficient of variation showed considerable variation for all the ten traits indicating scope for improvement in desired direction. From the variability studies, higher magnitude of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were observed for harvest index, pods per plant and grain yield per plant, moderate magnitude of GCV and PCV for plant height, days to 50% flowering, primary branches and seeds per pod indicating that these traits could be used for yield improvement under rabi pigeon pea breeding programme. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for days to 50% flowering, plant height and pods per plant which indicated predominance of additive gene action and scope for direct selection. Days to 50% flowering and primary branches were significantly and negatively correlated but pods per plant, pod length and 100 seed weight showed positive association with grain yield. Thus, these traits were identified as most important yield attributing components for selection in rabi pigeon pea. On the basis of per se performance, it has been concluded that among forty four genotypes the genotypes PDKV Ashlesha, Asha, AKTE 1644, and AKTE 1902 were found superior in terms of yield per plant whereas, ICPL 87 and PAU 881 were found to be earlier than other varieties.