S. P. Vyas , M. S. Yadav , N. Sudhakar

Abstract

Trial conducted on Cenchrus setigerus indicated that the varietal differences exist among various genotypes. Improved strain CAZRI-76 produced about 70% more dry matter as compared to local strain. The average dry matter yield depending upon rainfall varied between 19.6 to 32.3 q/ha. This indicates that selection of proper genotype can substantially increase forage production in this part of Gujarat.

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M. S. Yadav , K. L. Mehra , M. L. Magoon

Abstract

Haritability, genetic advance and simple correlations among six characters were analysed in eighteen genetic stocks of the pasture grass, D.annulatum Stapf. The differences among the varietal means were significant for all characters. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variability were moderate for some characters and low for the others. The heritability and genetic advance (in percent of the mean) of the characters studied ranged from 27.9 to 90.5% and 13.2% to 87%, respestively. Leaf number, tiller number and fodder yield showed comparatively higher heritabilities and genetic advances as compared to those of the other characters, indicating that straight selection is likely to lmprove them. Among the character correlations studied, only the tiller number was significantly and positively correlated with the fodder yield at the phenotypic level. The leaf number showed significant and positive phenotypic correlation with the culm girth and node number It was, therefore, suggested that while the breeders should aim at selecting highly tillering plants, the quality of the herbage vis-a-vis its leafiness should not be lost sight of.

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M. S. Yadav

Abstract

Heritability, genetic advance and correlations among ten fodder yield components were analysed in thirty six varieties of pasture grass, Pennisetum pedicellatum Tria. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficients, of variability were moderate for some characters and low for the others. The differences among the varietal means of all characters were significant. The heritability and genetic advance of the characters studied ranged from 28.8 to 97.0 and 1046 to 31.39 percent respectively. The tiller number, leaf number, stem girth and fodder yield exhibited comparatively high coefficient of variation, moderate or high heritability and high genetic advance. At both genotypic and phenotypic levels, the fodder yield was correlated significantly and positively with the days to bloom, tiller number and stem girth. The partial correlation coefficients between all character combinations, except the days to bloom with stem girth, were significant. The multiple correlation coefficient taking to fodder yield as a dependable variable and the days to bloom, tiller number and stem girth as the independent variables was +0.89. The implications of the findings, in selecting for high yielding and nutritive varieties of P. pedicellatum are discussed

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M. S. Yadav , K. L. Mehra , M. L. Magoon

Abstract

Heritability, genetic advance and correlations among nine characters were analysed in twentyeight varieties of the pasture grass, Cenchrus ciliais. The differences among the varietal means of all characters were significant. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variability were moderate for some characters and low for the others. The heritability and genetic advance of the characters studied ranged from 39.13 to 97.12 and 17.056 to 51.11 percent, respectively. The leaf number, leaf breadth and involucel number showed high heruitability and high genetic advance, indicating that straight selection is likely to improve them. The genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than the phenotypic correlation coefficients for most of the character combinations studied. The plant height, leaf breadth, spike length and fodder yield were significantly and positively correlated with each others, in all combinations, at the genotypic and phenotypic levels. The results suggested that the breeder should select, tall plants bearing broad leaves and long spikes havlng many involucels to develop high fodder and seed (involucel) yielding types of C. ciliaris.

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