Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in vegetable pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense)

Abstract

Vegetable pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense) belongs to family Leguminoceae sub family Fabaceae. Pea is an important legume vegetable, extensively cultivated in the temperate regions and restricted to cooler altitudes in the tropics and winter season in the sub-tropics. It is a self-pollinated crop having diploid chromosome number, 2n=14. It is highly nutritious and capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Being most important to growers and consumer, there is an urgent need to increase its productivity to fulfill the increasing demands throughout the year. The information usually needed for developing high yield varieties in a particular species pertains to the extent of genetic variability for desirable traits in the available germplasm. Evaluation of germplasm is the basic tool for identification of improved genotypes. The great extent of natural variation present in various characters among the genotypes suggests good scope of improvement in economic traits. Large variability ensures better chance for selection of new genotypes. Variability parameters like genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance as well as degree of association between the various characters along with direct and indirect effect of yield contributing characters on yield, and genetic divergence among the genotypes for quantitative traits is of paramount significance in formulating an appropriate breeding strategy aimed to exploit the inherent variability of the original population.