Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part E (2025)

Genetic diversity was assessed in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) germplasms with 33 genotypes of finger millet collected from various sources which were evaluated in RBD at ZARS, Igatpuri during kharif 2024. A treatment sum of squares was significant for all the characters studied indicated considerable amount of variability. 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. The characters viz., fodder yield per plot (kg), number of productive tillers and grain yield per plot (kg) exhibited high GCV and PCV effects indicating the presence of large variation among the genotypes for these characters. 
The traits plant height, iron content, fodder yield per plot, flag leaf length grain yield per plot, crude fibre, test weight and peduncle length showed high estimates of heritability (b.s.) accompanied by high genetic advance as per cent of mean signifying that these characters could be prominently governed by additive gene action and direct selection of these traits could be rewarded.