The experiment on twenty three genotypes including three check varieties (GA 2, BGA 2 and RMA 7) of amaranthus (Amaranthus paniculatus L.) was conducted to work out the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation, path coefficient and genetic divergence effects of their various attributes on seed yield. The analysis of variance revealed that mean squares due to treatments were highly significant for all characters except seed volume weight (g/10ml). The magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation for all the characters. The high estimates (>20%) of phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficients of variations were found in case of harvest index, biological yield/plant and low estimates ( 75%) were high for plant height, biological yield per plant, harvest index, days to maturity and inflorescence length. The high estimates of genetic advance in percent of mean (>20%) were obtained for harvest index, biological yield per plant, plant height, number of branches per plant and inflorescence length. The contribution of ten characters towards divergence showed the highest contribution by plant height followed by biological yield per plant. High heritability and genetic advance indicate that the additive nature of gene action and reliability of those characters for selection and emerged as ideal traits for improvement through selection. | Evaluation and identification of most promising genotypes for varietal development in amaranthus (Amaranthus paniculatus L.)
