Vol. 7, Issue 11, Part H (2025)

Genetic variablity was assessed in little millet (Panicum sumatrense L.) germplasms with 34 genotypes of little millet collected from zonal agricultural research station (ZARS) and local areas of Igatpuri tahsil, which were evaluated in RBD at ZARS, Igatpuri during kharif 2024. A treatment sum of squares were significant for all the characters studied indicated considerable amount of variability to be present. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters studied indicating the role of environment in expression of characters. In the present study the characters such as days to maturity, plant height (cm), grain yield per plot (kg), number of productive tillers per plant, panicle length (cm), peduncle length (cm), flag leaf length(cm), fodder yield per plot (kg), Thousand seed weight (g), crude fibre (%), iron (mg/100g) and calcium (mg/100g) showed high estimates of heritability (b.s.) which indicates high transmission of characters from parents to their offspring which will be helpful for selection in future hybridization programme
The characters viz., grain yield per plot (kg), number of productive tillers per plant, flag leaf length (cm), fodder yield per plot (kg), peduncle length (cm), crude fibre (%) and Thousand seed weight (g) recorded high estimates of heritability (b.s.) accompanied by high genetic advance as percent of mean suggesting that these character could be significantly governed by additive gene action and selection of these traits could be more effective for desirable genetic improvement through simple selection.