Studies of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in balsam (Impatiens balsamina L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out with 34 genotypes of Balsam (Impatiens balsamina L.) to assess the variability, heritability and genetic advance with an objective to identify superior genotypes for further crop improvement programme. The experiment was conducted during rainy season 2014 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. These genotypes show significant variation at 5% level of significance for different characters under study. Highest range of variation was reported with the number of flowers/plant (109-221). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was maximum for seed yield/plant, i.e. 29.02 and  26.34 while, minimum in case of length of leaf, i.e.  8.35 and 6.48, respectively. High heritability was observed for all the characters except plant height, width of leaves and duration of flowering. Maximum heritability was recorded for duration of flowering (90.68%) and minimum was observed in width of leaf (30.04). High heritability (h² = 90.64) with high genetic advance (GA= 71.36) as percentage of mean was observed for number of flowers/plant, which indicated that additive gene effects were more important for that trait. High genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for number of flowers/plant (71.36) however, lowest for floral bud diameter (0.11) which indicates the preponderance of additive genes and selection will be effective for improvement of these traits.