MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND DIVERGENCE STUDIES IN BARNYARD MILLET (Echinochloa frumentacea L.)
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Date
2022-08-17
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guntur
Abstract
The present research investigation on “Morphological Characterization and Divergence Studies in Barnyard Millet [Echinochloa Frumentacea (L.)]” was conducted during kharif, 2020 at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nandyal, with sixty four germplasm accessions in lattice square design with two replications.
Morphological characterization of germplasm accessions revealed the existence of wide range of variation among 22 DUS traits studied. For plant growth habit, it was dominant for erectness, for basal tillers all the germplasm are low (<4), medium duration for days to 50% flowering, medium type was dominant for flag leaf blade length and width, medium was dominant for peduncle length, non-pigmented was dominant for pigmentation at internode, pyramidal was dominant for inflorescence shape, green color was dominant for inflorescence color, open was dominant for panicle compactness, for spikelet arrangements one side was dominant, straight was dominant for lower raceme shape, slender was predominant for lower raceme thickness, absent of branching was predominant for lower raceme branching, culm branching, all the germplasm accessions were branched, medium was dominant for lower raceme length, for panicle length medium was dominant, for plant height tall was dominant, grey white was dominant for grain color, medium was dominant for 1000 seed weight, lodging was absent for all the germplasm accessions.
The results of ANOVA indicated the existence of highly significant differences among the germplasm accessions indicating ample genetic variability in the germplasm for all the 18 quantitative traits studied.
Based on per se performance, promising germplasm accessions viz., TNEf-216, TNEf-215, TNEf-218 and TNEf-202 that recorded higher values for majority of the traits viz., days to 50% flowering and days to maturity (earliness), basal tillers, peduncle length, flag leaf blade length, flag leaf blade width, plant height, panicle weight / plant, 1000 seed weight, lower raceme length, grain yield / plant, phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus were identified.
A perusal to the analysis of various genetic parameters viz., genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean revealed higher values of GCV, PCV, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean for the traits basal tillers and lower raceme length implying their amenability for improvement through simple selection strategies. Moderate GCV and PCV values coupled with high heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean was registered for the traits, days to 50% flowering, peduncle length, panicle length, 1000 seed weight, panicle weight per plant, grain yield per plant, zinc and protein indicating the prevalence of both additive and non-additive gene actions and hence genetic improvement can be achieved by intercrossing among the accessions followed by selection for this trait.
Diversity in the germplasm accessions was assessed through D2 analysis and canonical root analysis. The results of D2 analysis showed formation of eight non-overlapping distinct clusters with maximum number of accessions in cluster I (57) and cluster II, III, IV, V, VI. VII and VIII were mono genotypic clusters with single accession per cluster. Minimum inter-cluster distance was reported between clusters IV and VI. Maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster VI and VII, IV and VI in the decreasing order of magnitude indicating the presence of diversity in the material which can be utilized for future hybridization programme.
About 75.9 per cent of total genetic divergence was accounted through canonical root analysis. Based on the results of divergence studies and per se performance together, the promising accessions TNEf-216, TNEf-215, TNEf-218 and TNEf-202 were identified which can be used as ‘potential parents’ in future hybridization programmes.
The correlation studies between grain yield and its attributes in sixtyfour accessions of barnyard millet revealed positively significant association of grain yield / plant with most of the traits viz., basal tillers, 1000 seed weight, panicle weight per plant and peduncle length implying that these traits may be employed as selection criterion for developing high yielding cultivars. The path coefficient analysis revealed that traits viz., panicle weight / plant, iron, calcium, panicle length and 1000 seed weight established true relationship with grain yield per plant by exhibiting positive associations and positive direct selection for these traits.
Thus as a whole, the studies conclude that the germplasm accessions viz., TNEf-216, TNEf-215, TNEf-218 and TNEf-202 were promising for majority of the traits and might serve as ‘potential parents’ in future hybridization programmes. The traits, basal tillers and lower raceme length with higher estimates of variability parameters can be improved through simple selection strategies. Association studies through correlation and path analysis revealed that the traits panicle weight per plant and 1000 seed weight showed high positive direct effects on grain yield implying the scope of direct selection for these traits in genetic improvement of barnyard millet.
Description
MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION
AND DIVERGENCE STUDIES IN BARNYARD
MILLET (Echinochloa frumentacea L.)