To estimate heritability and genetic advance in percent of mean in germplasm of fenugreek [Trigonella foenum-graecum L.]

The field experiment was laid out in Augmented Block Design with 120 genotypes along with three checks in six blocks. The present investigation was conducted during November 2015 to March 2016 at Main Experimental Station of Vegetable Science, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, and Faizabad (U.P.). The characters studied were Days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, length of pod (cm), number of seed per pod, 1000 seed weight (g), seed yield per plant (g) and yield (q/ha). Data were analyzed statistically for their mean, range, coefficient of variation, heritability, genetic advance, and genetic advance as percent of mean using non-hierarchical Euclidean cluster analysis. The study revealed genetic variation for all studied traits in fenugreek. Analyses of variance for the design of experiment of fenugreek showed that block were highly significant for all the characters. The P.C.V. was higher in magnitude than G.C.V. The maximum genotypic and phenotypic variances were observed for branches per plant and plant height. Heritability estimates were high for 1000-seed weight (g), Number of pods /plant, Days to maturity. Number of branches / plant, Plant height (cm) and Plant height (cm) showed very high genetic advance in percent of mean. In present study, pods per plant showed positive and highly significant correlation association with seed yield (q/ha). Path coefficient analysis carried out at genotypic as well as phenotypic level revealed pods per plant, seed per pod and 1000 seed weight had positive direct effect on seed yield per plant, this indicates that selection for these traits will be useful.