Genetic variability studies of advanced generation mutant oat (Avena sativa L.) lines for yield, fodder traits and proline content

Abstract

The present study was conducted with 118 mutant oat lines including three checks JO-1, JO-03-91 and Kent which was analyzed based on data of Rabi season 2016- 17 and Rabi 2017-18 to assess the performance, variability, heritability and genetic advance for nineteen yield and its component traits. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences exists among the genotypes for all the characters studied. The estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were high for dry matter yield per plant per day followed by crude protein yield per plant per day, number of tillers per plant, crude protein yield per plant, number of spikelets per panicle and flag leaf length whereas, values of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were high for crude protein yield per plant per day followed by number of tillers per plant and flag leaf length. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for flag leaf width, flag leaf length and thousand seed weight. It was concluded that there is ample scope for exploitation of variation for the traits investigated in these mutant lines for direct selection of high yielding genotypes. Based on genetic variability parameters and proline content for stress resistance some selected putative mutant lines viz., MJO15-6, MJO15-11, MJO15-17, MK15-3, MK15-20, MK15-33, MJ9315-17, MJ9315-32 and MJ9315-46 can be utilized either directly in coordinated trial or as parent in crosses for crop improvement programme to develop high yielding and good quality of fodder oat.