Genetic Variability Studies in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.

The experimental material comprised 68 diverse genotypes of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn). The data on 13 quantitative traits were recorded to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing traits. In the present investigation, values of phenotypic coefficients of variability were greater than genotypic coefficients of variability for all the traits studied. Highest PCV and GCV were recorded for grain yield per plant. The characters viz., straw yield per plant, number of productive tillers per plant, main ear head length and number of fingers per ear were expressed the moderate amount of variation indicated large extent of genetic variability for these traits in the material. High heritability along with high genetic advance (% of mean) observed for for grain yield per plant, number of productive tillers per plant, straw yield per plant and main ear head length, indicating involvement of additive gene action for these traits and phenotypic selection based on these traits in the segregating generations would likely to be more effective.