| Popis: |
The current study involved 40 castor genotypes and revealed significant variation in agro-morphological traits among them. Genetic estimates showed higher values, alongside a narrow range of genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variance for key traits such as seed yield, plant height, 100-seed weight, effective primary spike length, and number of capsules on primary spikes, indicating a favorable scope for selection. Out of the ten analysed traits, four exhibited a positive direct effect, while six showed a negative direct effect on seed yield per plant. Maximum positive direct effects were observed for total length of primary spike, days to maturity of primary spike, percent oil content, and hundred-seed weight. Hence, genotypes possessing these traits could play a pivotal role in breeding elite cultivars within improvement programme. The seed yield per plant, plant height, 100-seed weight, effective primary spike length, and number of capsules on primary spikes showed high estimates for both GCV and PCV, indicating substantial variability with minimal environmental influence. This suggests that these traits offer a strong opportunity for selection and breeding, as the genetic variability in these traits is more significant than environmental factors. Most quantitative traits studied exhibited high heritability and high genetic advance, indicating that these traits are largely controlled by additive genetic effects, which is favourable for selection. |
