GENETIC VARIABILITY, HERITABILITY AND GENETIC ADVANCE IN SOME GENOTYPES OF LINSEED LINUM USITATISSIMUM L.

Present study was conducted on 9 advanced linseed genotypes (LS-9, LS-10, LS-21, LS-22, LS-23, LS-37, LS-38, LS-39, LS-42 (Linum usitatissimum L.) and a check variety Chandni for genetic evaluation at NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan under Oilseeds Research Programme. These genotypes were sown in RCBD with three replications during rabi 2011-12 at research area. At maturity stage data of ten different yield and its related parameters were recorded. Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance indicated that genotypic mean squares were highly significant for all the traits. Phenotypic variance was greater than genotypic variance that indicates influence of environment on the traits under study. Heritability estimate values ranged from 0.51% for oil content to 0.99% for days to flower initiation. Heritability estimates for different characters were found maximum (0.99) for days to flower initiation followed by days to maturity (0.96), 1000 seed weight (0.96), seed yield/plot (0.94) and days to flower completion (0.92). High heritability estimates indicated that improvement could be made through selection. Maximum relative expected genetic advance was recorded for seed yield/plot (22.75%) followed by number of primary branches/plant (20.10%). Genetic advance as percent of mean was calculated highest (22.75) for seed yield/plot followed by number of primary branches/plant (20.10) and number of capsules/plant (17.39).