An assessment of variability generated in F2 generation of four crosses of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (Gaertn))

Improvement of economic characters like yield through selection is conditioned by the nature and magnitude of variability existing in such populations. However, the phenotypic expression of complex character like yield is a combination of genotype, environment and their interaction. This indicates the need for partition of overall variability into heritable and non-heritable components with the help of appropriate statistical techniques. The results of this investigation carried out in F2 generation of four crosses of finger millet to quantify the variability created along with heritability and genetic advances for important yield and attributing characters. In general moderate to high broad sense heritability was observed for days to fifty per cent flowering, finger length, 1000 seed weight, whereas high broad sense heritability was observed for plant height, total tillers per plant and number of productive tillers per plant. A very high genetic advance was observed for total tillers per plant, productive tillers per plant, finger number per main ear, finger length and weight of main ear. Moderate to low genetic advance for plant height, days to fifty per cent flowering and 1000 seed weight were observed.