Evaluation of Genetic Parameters for Yield and Yield Related Attributes in Black Seed (Nigella sativa L.) Accessions under Rainfed Conditions

Abstract

To investigate the interrelationship between quantitative characters in black seed (Nigella sativa L.) accessions, field experiments were conducted with 13 black seed (Nigella sativa L.) accessions under rainfed conditions using a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Barani Agricultural research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan. Heritability values were greater for germination percentage, primary branches per plant, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, 1000 grain weight and grain yield (kg/ha) demonstrating that these attributes are controlled mainly by additive genes and that selection of such attributes may be successful for improving grain yield. Number of grains per pod, 1000- grain weight, number of pods per plant, primary branches per plant and 1000-grain weight had positive and highly significant phenotypic and genotypic correlations with grain yield. Number of pods per plant, primary branches per plant, number of grains per pod and 1000-grain weight also had a positive direct effect on grain yield. It can be concluded that grain yield in black seed can be improved by selecting an ideotype having greater number of pods per plant as well as higher number of grains per pod and 1000-grain weight.

Keywords: Variability, heritability, correlation, path coefficient, Nigella sativa