Genetic Variability and Correlations Among Fodder Yield Components in the Pasture Grass, <I>Pennisetum pedicellatum</I>

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