Genetic Variation, Heritability and Genetic Advance Among Semi-Dwarf Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Recombinant Inbred Lines

A total of forty-nine recombinant inbred lines were evaluated for 16 traits using simple lattice design. All the traits measured over the locations showed highly significant differences among the lines except fertile tiller per plant, while the inbred lines x location interaction effect was highly significant for most of the traits measured. Grain yield showed the highest phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) (26.36%) followed by above ground biomass (23.16%), while the remaining traits showed low (<10%) to moderate (10-20%). Moderate (10-20%) genotypic coefficient of variation was recorded for above ground biomass. Plant height and panicle length showed high heritability(H2) (>60%), whereas half of the remained traits showed low (<30%) and moderate (30% to 60%) heritability. Genetic advance as percent of the mean (GAM) was the highest for above ground biomass (>17.02%) and least for number of branches per panicle (0.09%). From all the traits evaluated in this study, plant height, panicle length showed high H2and aboveground biomass performs relatively high values of GCV, PCV and GAM. Therefore, these traits are important for selection and further improvements. This study revealed that four recombinant inbred lines had higher yield than local and standard checks. Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL)# 14 showed the highest grain yield and low lodging index, longer panicle, higher number of spikelets per panicle, as well as the highest above ground biomass than all recombinant inbred lines, which could be the base for future tef breeding program. Keywords: Correlation, Genetic variation, Heritability, Inbred lines, Tolerance, Traits DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-17-01 Publication date:September 30th 202