Santhi Priya G

Genetic Evaluation of M2 V1 Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum Jacq) Clones under Partially Shaded Conditions - Vellayani Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture 1991



The top ranking ten clumps from the open pollinated seed progeny of each of the four mutant clones of guinea grass variety FR - 600 viz., MC - 2, MC - 14, MC - 16 and MC-23 and two control varieties FR – 600 and Makueni were studied in terms of green fodder yield, dry matter yield, tiller count and root length and were evaluated to identify genetically superior clones.
The six clones comprising of 60 progenies were evaluated in a field trial in a compact family block design with four replications.
Analysis of variance carried out for ten characters revealed significant differences among the six families for seven characters. The familywise analysis of variance carried out displayed significant differences among the progenies in either one or more of the families for eight out of the ten characters, indicating that sexual reproduction is prevalent in the crop at least to some extent. As genetic variability existed within the families, selection will be effective within the families too.
Genotypic coefficient of variation was maximum for inflorescence count and minimum for height of grasses.
High heritability estimates were recorded for inflorescence count, height of grasses and free proline content of leaves, indicating that its genetic improvement can be effected through selection. Moderate heritability values were recorded for root length, leaf area and dry matter yield while tiller number. Leaf/stem ratio, green fodder yield and reaction to collar rot recorded low heritability values.
Genetic advance expressed as percentage of mean was high for free proline content of leaves and inflorescence count and low for all the other characters.
A selection index based on plant height, tiller number, leaf area, leaf/stem ratio and green fodder yield identified six of the progenies as genetically superior from among the sixty progenies studied, when ten per cent selection was exercised. The top ranking six progenies belonged to the families MC – 23 and Makueni.

630.28 / SAN/GE
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