Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in vegetable pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense)

Abstract

Vegetable pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense) belongs to family Leguminoceae sub family Fabaceae. Pea is an important legume vegetable, extensively cultivated in the temperate regions and restricted to cooler altitudes in the tropics and winter season in the sub-tropics. It is a self-pollinated crop having diploid chromosome number, 2n=14. It is highly nutritious and capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Being most important to growers and consumer, there is an urgent need to increase its productivity to fulfill the increasing demands throughout the year. The information usually needed for developing high yield varieties in a particular species pertains to the extent of genetic variability for desirable traits in the available germplasm. Evaluation of germplasm is the basic tool for identification of improved genotypes