Heritability and selection gain from autochthonic genotypic traits of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus conrniculatus L.)

Abstract

The goal of this study was to ascertain heritability and potential selection gain in 28 local genotypic traits of birdsfoot trefoil. Heritability and relative genetic gain from selection were calculated for yield and yield components of biomass and seed. Higher values of heritability for 1000 seed weight (98.26%) and height of plants (80.56%) indicated that their heritability was more influenced by genetic basis, then by the environment. Low degree of heritability was found for seed yield (11.04%) and number of husks (2.73%), which demonstrated that seed yield was under great influence of environmental factor. The obtained results of biometric analyses indicated that progress could be achieved in breeding of tested material. The results of these tests indicated the value of promising autochthonic genotypic traits, which can be used for further improvement of birdsfoot trefoil cultivars.