International Journal of Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences (IJAAS) ISSN: 1712-3496, Vol. 6(3), pp. 185 -192, September, 2021. © Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length Research paper

Estimation of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance among Ethiopian food barley (Hordeum vulgareL) landraces for yield and yield related traits

Geleta Negash¹*, Dagnachew Lule² and Zerihun Jalata³

¹*Oromia Agricultural Research Institute(IQQO), Haro Sebu Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 10, Haro Sebu, Ethiopia.

²Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 81256, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

³Faculty of Agriculture Department of Plant Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia

^*Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 20th September, 2021.

Abstract

Barley is the most important staple food crop due to early maturing and better adapted cereal in marginal areas. To launch an effective breeding program, it is essential to have information on the nature and magnitudes of genetic diversity. The objective was to assess genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield related traits. 100 barley landraces were arranged in 10 x 10 simple lattice designs at Haro Sabu Agricultural Research Center. Statistically, highly significant (p<0.01) and (p<0.05) variation was observed among materials for important quantitative traits. Genotypic variance of characters varied widely from 0.02 for grain weight per spike to 49.18 for plant height. Genotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 4.99% for days to maturity to 32.24% for number of spike lets per spike. Broad sense heritability ranged from 12.14% for harvest index to 81.70% for number of spike lets per spike. The highest genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for number of spike lets per spike (60.03%) and the least for harvest index (4.38%). Generally, the magnitude of genetic variability among the studied materials showed great variations for desirable traits and thus confident enough to expect genetic progress if further breeding activities are carried out.

Key words: Barley, Coefficient of variation, Genetic advance, Heritability