Analysis of genetic variability and divergence for quantitative traits in lentil (lens culinaris medik.)

The present experiment was conducted using one hundred and eighty five genotypes of lentil collected from different locations to determine the genetic variation, association and divergence among them. Data on various characteristics were recorded. Wide range of variations found in mean values suggested variations for all agronomic traits under study. ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits. Genetic parameters like genotypic and phenotypic variances and correlation coefficient, heritability and genetic advance were estimated. Estimates of phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variations were high for grain yield (55.10, 51.15), number of pods per plant (49.31, 47.56) and harvest index (53.17, 40.89) while it was very low for days to flowering (3.77, 3.63) and days to maturity (2.46, 2.23). Estimates of genotypic coefficient of variability constituted major component of variability suggested variation in the genetic constitution irrespective of environmental influences. All the characters showed high heritability. The traits grain yield per plant, number of pods per plant, harvest index, number of branches and seed weight showed high genetic advances, suggested selection of genotypes considering these traits will lead to high yielding varieties. Phenotypic and genotypic correlation revealed that all the traits possess positive correlation with grain yield, except days to flowering and days to maturity. Genotypic and phenotypic path coefficient revealed that traits like number of pods per plant,; biological yield and harvest index have direct positive effect on grain yield. Genetic divergence analysis grouped 185 genotypes into eight clusters. Cluster VII had highest mean value of grain yield, number of pods per plant and harvest index while lowest was that of was that of II. Hybridization between the genotypes of these clusters may give rise to more valuable transgressive segregates.