The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the sixty foxtail millet germplasm to access the nature and magnitude of genetic variability for yield and yield component traits. The experiment was laid out in Augmented Randomized Complete Block Design (ARCBD) at RARS, Lam, Guntur during kharif, 2018-19. The analysis of variance indicated significant differences for most of the traits viz., days to 50% flowering, panicle length, productive tillers per plant, days to maturity, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphorus and grain yield per plant indicating a high degree of variability in the material for these traits. Coefficient of variation studies indicated that the estimates of PCV were greater than the corresponding GCV estimates for all the traits indicating the influence of environment on expression of these traits. High PCV and GCV were recorded for panicle length, productive tillers per plant, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphorus, grain yield per plant. Moderate PCV and GCV recorded for days to 50% flowering, plant height, test weight and carbohydrate whereas days to maturity recorded low PCV and GCV. The estimates of heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean were high for the traits, days to 50% flowering, plant height, panicle length, test weight, protein, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and phosphorus indicating the probable operation of additive gene action in inheritance of these traits and simple selection may be sufficient to improve these traits. | Genetic parameters of yield and quality component traits in foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.]
