Study of Genetic Variability and Character Association in Elite Lines of Finger Millet [Eleusine coracana (L.)] Suitable for Eastern Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh

The present study was entitled “Study of genetic variability and character association in elite lines of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.)] Suitable for the eastern plain zone of Uttar Pradesh” was carried out to estimate the genetic variability, genetic advance, correlation, between yield and yield contributing traits and direct and indirect effect of yield component on yield through path analysis (18). The present investigation concluded genotype acquiring the less for grain yield per plant were IC NO 0474166 (FIN NO 5126) (0.41 t/ha). The genotype IC NO 0473932 (FIN NO 4980) (2.22 t/ha) was high ear head length. This genotype was the highest grain yield per plant than CHECK GPU 67 (0.55 t/ha).  The genotype IC NO 0473932 (FIN NO 4980) (2.22 t/ha) was 1.67 t/ha higher yield than CHECK GPU 67 (0.55 t/ha).  The highest genotypic variance observed were finger length, harvest index, grain yield per plant. The highest phenotypic coefficient of variance observed were test weight, finger length, harvest index, grain yield per plant. The highest heritability were recorded in harvest index, grain yield per plant, flag leaf width, plant height, Number of days to 50% flowering, Days to Maturity, finger width, finger length. The traits Number of days to 50% flowering, biological yield per plant, plant height, days to Maturity exhibited moderate genetic advance. The traits were biological yield per plant, test weight, finger width, harvest index, finger length, grain yield per plant recorded high genetic advance as percentage of mean. Genotypic correlation coefficient reveals that single plant yield significantly positive correlation with number of finger fingers per, harvest index, biological yield per plant, finger length, ear head length, finger width, no. of tillers per plant, flag leaf length. For phenotypic correlation traits were harvest index, test weight, biological yield per plant, number of finger per ear, ear head length, flag leaf length, number of tillers per plant, flag leaf width showed significantly positive correlation with grain yield per plant. The traits harvest index, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, number of finger per ear showed higher positive direct effect on grain yield per plant at genotypic level. The traits harvest index, biological yield, plant height showed higher positive direct effect on grain yield per plant at phenotypic level (6).