Selection criteria for genetic improvement of sugar snaps (Pisum sativum var. saccharatum) based on components of genetic variability

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted on newly generated material of sugar snaps comprising of 29 advanced breeding lines (F7) developed from 4 interspecific crosses at HP Agricultural University, Palampur along with 7 lines collected from different institutes in randomized complete block design over three replications during winter 2016-17. The phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficients of variation were high for straw yield/plant while branches/ plant, internodal length, pods/plant, dry pod weight and seed yield/plant showed high PCV with moderate GCV. High heritability and genetic advance was recorded for internodal length, plant height, straw yield/plant, dry pod weight and seed yield/plant, indicating additive gene effect for their inheritance. Seed yield/plant was positively associated with pod length, seeds/pod, protein content of seed, straw yield/ plant and 100-seed weight both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Harvest index and straw yield contributed maximum via their direct and indirect contributions towards total association of these traits with seed yield while, nodes/ plant, internodal length, 100-seed weight and seeds/pod also contributed to some extent. Therefore, these traits would be of great significance for achieving enhanced performance of genotypes for seed yield.