Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance among yield and yield related traits of advanced Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] breeding lines

Abstract

In Ethiopia, tef is one of the most significant crops that are grown extensively as a staple cereal crop. The evaluation of genetic variability in crop species is one of the key activities in plant breeding, which supports in the creation of breeding strategies to meet a diversify objectives. A field experiment was therefore conducted to determine genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advanced for yield and yield-related traits of tef genotypes. The experiment was laid out in 7x7 simple lattice designs at two locations (Bishoftu and Akaki) in central Ethiopia during the 2021/22 main cropping season. For the majority of the parameters, the combined analysis of variance over locations revealed significance differences in location, genotype, and genotype x location interactions. The genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) ranged from 2.96% for the number of primary panicle branches per main shoot to 15.82% for days to physiological maturity, while the phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) ranged from 3.62% for days to physiological maturity to 18.42% for the number of primary panicle branches per main shoot. Genetic advanced as a percentage of mean ranges from 2.43% (number of total tillers per plant) to 28.03% (number of primary panicle branches per main shoot) and heritability in the broadest sense ranges from 14% (number of total tillers per plant) to 88.67% (day to heading), respectively. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean was recorded for the number of spikelets per panicle, number of primary panicle branches per main shoot and panicle length. Generally, the variation observed among the tested genotypes confirmed the possibility of improving tef genotypes for better yield through selection and hybridization.