Plant Gene and Trait, 2015, Vol.6, No.7, 1-11
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selected for present investigation (Table 1). Expectedly,
phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher
than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) in
all the characters under investigation (Table 1),
probably due to genotype environment interaction or
other environmental factors which influencing
phenotypic expression of these traits. Similar
observation and recommendation in eggplant were
done by Roychowdhury et al. (2011).
In the present study the maximum GCV and PVC was
observed for no. of fruits in inflorescence/plant
followed by fruits/plant, yield/plant (g), fresh
weight/fruit (g), no of fruits in solitary/plant, fruit
circumference (cm) and harvesting period (Table 1).
So these high variability characters can be considered
while selecting parents for further breeding program.
Dhaka and Soni (2014) observed high GCV and PCV
for average fruit weight and suggested that selection
of brinjal would be effective for these high variability
traits. Among all characters low environmental
influence was observed in harvesting period followed
by Days to first fruiting, Fruit length (cm), Days to
first flowering and fruit circumference (cm) due to
low GCV PCV difference. Low GCV PCV difference
for these characters indicated that genetic construction
is responsible for their phenotypic expression rather
than external environmental factors.
Selection efficiency based on phenotype performance
would be worthwhile when we determine GCV PCV
as well as heritability in broad sense. In the present
study highest heritability was recorded for harvesting
period followed by fresh weight/fruit (g), fruit
circumference (cm), fruit length (cm), fruits/plant, no.
of fruits in inflorescence/plant and yield/plant (g)
indicated that phenotypic performance rarely
influenced by environmental factors and these
characters can be determined for improvement
program. High heritability for most of the characters
also observed by Kumar et al. (2013a) and concluded
that there was more number of additive genes for
these characters where variability is mostly due to
genotypic causes.
In selection program heritability in broad sense is not
adequate for signifying genotypic potentiality because
of restriction by genotype environment interaction. As
heritability in broad sense includes both additive and
epistatic gene effects prediction of genetic progress
would be possible when it is accompanied with
genetic advance as percent of mean (Burton, 1952;
Johnson et al., 1955). High heritability coupled with
high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed
for no. of fruits in inflorescence/plant, fresh
weight/fruit (g), fruits/plant, yield/plant (g) whose
revealed preponderance of additive gene action and
simple selection would be operative for these traits.
Similar observation were reported by Mili et al. (2014)
for seed yield/plant, single fruit weight, fruits/plant,
total fruit yield/plot and fruit diameter.
High heritability coupled with moderate genetic
advance as percent of mean was observed for
harvesting period, fruit circumference (cm), fruit
length (cm) indicated that characters were controlled
by additive gene and would also be effective for
improvement as reported by Solaimana et al. (2015)
and Karak et al. (2012). Character representing
moderate heritability and low genetic advance
indicating predominant role of non-additive gene
action and progeny testing needs to exploit of this
character (Mili et al., 2014).
Correlation coefficient analysis determines the
component characters for improvement of yield based
on their degree of association. In the present study
strong positive correlation with yield both genotypic
and phenotypic level were observed for fruits/plant
followed by fresh weight/fruit (g), fruit circumference
(cm), no. of fruits in inflorescence/plant and no. of
secondary branches/plant (Table 2). Kumar and
Arumugam (2013) suggested that selection should be
based on number of fruit per plant, fruit circumference
and fruit weight because of their significant positive
association with yield both genotypic and phenotypic
level.
No. of fruits in solitary/plant, no. of primary
branches/plant and fruit length (cm) had significant
positive correlation to yield in both genotypic and
phenotypic level. So these characters would also be
effective in selection programme. On the other hand
negative correlation were found for plant height (cm),
stem diameter (cm), days to first flowering, days to
first fruiting, harvesting period, fruit stalk length (cm)
with yield/plant both genotypic and phenotypic level
in different extant. No. of primary branches/plant and
