Variability and heritability of some growth characters in ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk).

Information on variability, heritability and expected genetic gain (genetic advance as per cent of mean) were obtained for twelve growth characters in 30 genotypes of ber. High variability was recorded for all the growth characters. In general, heritability estimates were quite high for most of the characters except spread of tree (22.36 per cent). Maximum heritability was obtained for the days from fruit set to ripening (99.21 per cent) followed by percent fruit set 94.67. Fruit set per cent itself provide lot of variability, high heritability as well as maximum genetic gain (142.82). For the selection of high yielding genotypes attention should be paid upon selection for more fruit set and less fruit drop.