CLASSICAL SELECTION INDICES IN INDIAN GENOTYPES OF ITALIAN MILLET [SETARIA ITALICA (L.) BEAUV]

Abstract

Selection indices are useful in understanding the extent of improvement that can be effected in yield by combination of characters. It forms the basis in considering the correlated characters for higher efficiency in selection for yield. Classical selection indices study was carried out in 18 Indian genotypes of Italian millet for 13 characters during rainy and spring seasons. The results of classical selection indices indicated that in Indian genotypes GS 448, GS 444, GS 442, and GS 449 for rainy and GS 440, GS 450, GS 451 and GS 448 for spring are to be preferred. In general, the indices, which include more than one character, gave high genetic advance suggesting the utility of selection index for simultaneous improvement of several characters. A selection index of eight characters combination i.e., grain yield per plant, days to 50% flowering , plant height, number of productive tillers per plant, ear length, ear weight, crude protein content and  calcium content had recorded high genetic advance and relative efficiency over grain yield per plant alone during rainy whereas selection index of nine characters combination i.e., grain yield per plant, days to 50% flowering , plant height, number of productive tillers per plant, ear length,  ear weight, 1000 grain weight, crude protein content and  calcium content had recorded high genetic advance and relative efficiency over grain yield per plant alone during spring. These classical selection indices may be given due weightage for simultaneous improvement in the respective groups.