Assessment of Genetic Variability and Magnitude of Correlation Co-efficient among Different Traits in Isabgol (Plantago ovata L. Forsk)

The present investigation was carried out using 26 diverse genotypes including 3 checks. The genotypes were planted in Randomized Block Design with three replications during Rabi, 2010-2011 at Research Farm, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur. The observations were recorded on ten randomly selected plants and estimation of different variability parameters and magnitude of correlation co-efficient among different traits in Isabgol (Plantago ovata L. Forsk). Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters suggesting sufficient amount of variability in the experimental material under study. High GCV coupled with high heritability and expected genetic gain of a character provides good selection advantage. There is a substantial scope for improvement of number of florets per plant, total soluble sugar, number of effective tillers per plant and seed yield per plant. Selection for these characters would be effective in selection of suitable genotype for Isabgol improvement. Association study indicated that seed yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated at both genotypic and phenotypic level with number of tillers per plant and 1000 seed weight, whereas swelling factor showed positive significant correlation with seed yield per plant only at genotypic level. These associations indicated that improvement in seed yield can be achieved by improving the characters for further breeding programme.