Studies On Genetic Variability and Relationship Among Yield Contributing Traits in Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Pulses Research Institute (PRI), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, during the Rabi season of 2020-21. The experiment included populations derived from two crosses: DP-11 × DP-09 (Cross-1) and DP-07 × DP-03 (Cross-2), namely P1 (parent-1), P2 (parent-2), F1, F2, Bc1P1 (Backcross-1), and Bc1P2 (Backcross-2) in a randomized block design with three replications. The objectives were to assess genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advances for various agronomic traits including days to first flowering, days to maturity, plant height, total number of clusters per plant, total number of branches per plant, total pods per cluster, total number of pods per plant, pod length, hundred seed weight, and total seed yield per plant. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated significant genetic variation for seed yield and its related attributes, supporting subsequent biometrical analyses. Phenotypic coefficients of variation exceeded genotypic coefficients for all traits studied, indicating substantial environmental influence on trait expression. Traits such as plant height, total number of clusters per plant, total pods per plant, and total seed yield per plant exhibited high heritability and genetic advance as a percentage of the F1 mean, suggesting these traits are amenable to direct selection for yield improvement within the studied populations. In conclusion, this research underscores the potential for genetic improvement in pulse crops through targeted selection based on the identified traits.