Genetic Variability Studies in Summer Pea Under Cold Desert Areas of North-Western Himalayas

A field experiment was conducted during summer 2004 to find out genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for marketable pod yield and its seven other associated traits in nine diverse genotypes of garden pea under cold desert conditions of North –Western Himalayas. Sufficient genetic variability was observed for marketable pod yield, no. of pods per plant, durations of availability of pods and grains per pod. The magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits. Marketable pod yield exhibited high heritability associated with high genetic advance as per cent of mean, whereas, no. of pods per plant, grains per pod and duration of marketable pods had high heritability with moderate genetic advance. The marketable pod yield ranged from 17.88 q (Lincoln) to 42.64 q/ha (Kukumseri Selection) and it exhibited 96.56% heritability with high genetic advance of 50.91 as percentage of mean. For improvement of such traits, suitable breeding methods have been suggested