Studies on Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

The present investigation was carried out with a view to study the extent of variability, heritability in broad sense, genetic advance in per cent of mean in fennel during Rabi season 2018-19 in Augmented Block Design. Plant spacing of 60cm x 40cm and each genotypes were grown in the plot size of 2.0 m x 1.2 m. The observations were recorded on ten characters. In Analysis of variance, the variances due to checks and genotypes were highly significant for all the characters, while, the variance due to blocks were significant for days to 50%flowering, number of umbels per plant and number of umbellets per umbel. Based on mean performance NDF-1, NDF-2, NDF-58, NDF-59, NDF-55, NDF-60 and NDF-76 were observed as significant and most promising genotypes for seed yield per plant and its component traits. The estimates of phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits. High magnitudes of variability PCV and GCV were observed in case of seed yield per plant (37.12, 36.95) followed by number of umbels per plant (30.89, 29.78), number of branches per plant (28.25, 22.92), weight of grains per umbel (26.02, 24.01) and number of umbellets per umbel (21.29,19.80). High heritability was observed for all the characters except number of branches per plant (65.83%) having moderate heritability. While, high genetic advance in per cent of mean was estimated for seed yield per plant (75.76) followed by number of umbels per plant (59.13). The high heritability coupled with high genetic advance in per cent of mean was estimated for maximum characters which indicated opportunity for selection response.