The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters indicating high degree of variability in the material studied therefore, it offers ample opportunity for improvement in yield and associated traits in garden pea (Table 1).
Wide range was observed for days to 50% flowering (87.3-95.5 days) and days to first picking (124.0-134.6 days), which determine the earliness of a particular genotype. Significant differences were observed with respect to pod length (7.95-10.20 cm), number of seeds per pod (6.25-9.25), shelling percentage (40.92%-53.24%), number of pods per plant (13.17-19.17), plant height (63.72-74.13 cm), number of primary branches per plant (1.14-2.17) and pod yield per plant (69.17-105.75 g). Wide variations with respect to different characters have been reported by
Gautam et al., (2017), Khan et al., (2017), Ali et al., (2018) and
Barcchiya et al., (2018).
Magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits studied suggesting that the environment played an important role in the expression of these traits (Table 2). Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) ranged from 2.99% for days to first picking to 26.87% for number of primary branches per plant. Whereas, genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) ranged from 2.79 for days to first picking to 21.68% for number of primary branches per plant. High phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were observed for number of primary branches per plant, pod yield per plant and number of seeds per pod, indicating sufficient scope for improvement in these characters.
The estimates of heritability (broad sense) varied from 40.47%-93.91% for different traits studied. It was found high for the traits
viz., days to 50 per cent flowering (93.91), number of seeds per pod (90.59), days to first picking (87.16), pod yield per plant (81.90), number of primary branches per plant (65.12) and number of pods per plant (60.80), whereas, moderate for shelling percentage (57.81), total soluble solids (55.25), pod length (47.77) and plant height (40.47). Values of genetic gain ranged from 4.47-36.04 for the traits under study.
High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for number of seeds per pod, number of primary branches per plant and pod yield per plant indicating that these traits are being governed by additive gene effects and selection in early generation may be effective.
Ali et al., (2018) reported high heritability coupled with high genetic gain for number of primary branches per plant and pod yield per plant,
Sharma and Bora (2013) and
Barcchiya et al., (2018) for pod yield per plant and
Gudadinni et al., (2017) for number of seeds per pod and pod yield per plant.
High heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance was recorded for number of pods per plant indicating the presence of both additive and non-additive gene effects.
Sharma et al., (2011) also reported high heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance for number of pods per plant. Moderate heritability along with moderate genetic gain was observed for pod length. Moderate to high heritability with low genetic gain were recorded for days to 50 per cent flowering, days to first picking, shelling percentage (57.81), total soluble solids (55.25) and plant height (40.47) and delineated the presence of non-additive gene action. Therefore, hybridization should be followed to improve the trait.
Correlation studies revealed the relationship between various characters and determine the component characters on which selection can be relied for crop improvement (Table 3). Number of seeds per pod (0.868, 0.796) had significant and strong positive association with pod yield per plant both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. These findings corroborated with those of
Jeberson et al., (2016), Pal and Singh (2012) and
Ram et al., (2010) for number of seeds per pod. Number of primary branches per plant (0.464) showed significant and positive correlation with pod yield per plant at genotypic level suggesting that direct selection for this trait should be practiced to develop high yielding genotypes. Similar observations were also reported by
Pal and Singh (2012),
Gautam et al., (2017) and
Khan et al., (2017). Days to first picking (-0.641, -0.526) exhibited significant negative correlation with pod yield per plant both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Significant negative correlation for days to first picking towards pod yield per plant was reported by
Katoch et al., (2016). Days to 50 per cent flowering showed significant and positive correlation with days to first picking at genotypic and phenotypic levels and at genotypic level with plant height. Shelling percentage was positively associated with number of pods per pod and total soluble solids at genotypic levels.
Path coefficient analysis measures the direct and indirect contribution of various independent characters on a dependent character. The results of path analysis revealed that days to 50 per cent flowering (0.493) had maximum positive direct effect on pod yield per plant followed by number of seeds per pod (0.394), number of pods per plant (0.260), shelling percentage (0.113), plant height (0.052) and total soluble solids (0.035) at the phenotypic level and days to 50 per cent flowering (1.460) followed by number of pods per plant (0.258), shelling percentage (0.135) and number of primary branches per plant (0.009) at genotypic level (Table 4). Similar findings have already been reported for number of pods per plant by
Gautam et al., (2017), Sharma et al., (2009), Kumar et al., (2014) and
Bijalwan et al., (2018). Sharma et al., (2011) also reported positive direct effect of shelling percentage on pod yield per plant. Similar results had also been reported by
Kumar et al., (2014) for days to 50 per cent flowering. Days to first picking (-1.883, -0.594) and pod length (-0.231, -0.282) exhibited negative direct effect on pod yield per plant both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. While, number of seeds per pod (-0.530), total soluble solids (-0.113) and plant height (-0.056) exhibited negative direct effects on pod yield per plant at genotypic level and number of primary branches per plant (-0.089) at the phenotypic level. Low and negative direct effects of total soluble solids and number of primary branches per plant on pod yield per plant was compensated by high indirect effect
via by days to first picking. Low residual effects (0.02926 and 0.19104) at genotypic and phenotypic levels indicating the sufficiency of the characters studied towards pod yield per plant.
APL-55, APL-69, APL-80 and Line 1-2SPS5 exhibited resistant reaction against powdery mildew as these lines harbour gene
er2. The commercial checks, Azad Pea-1, Lincoln, Punjab-89 and Palam Priya along with APL-84 were susceptible to powdery mildew, while APL-64 and Line 1-2SPS11 exhibited moderately resistance reaction. The maximum and significantly higher pod yield was recorded in Line 1-2SPS5 and Line 1-2SPS11.