Estimation of Genetic Variability Parameters in F₂ Population of Lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.)

Lathyrus is crop of prosperity nutritional value. It favours self-pollination so there have been indications that some out crossing occurs due to which precise emasculation and pollination was challenge. The current investigation focused on the study of 21 F2 crosses in Lathyrus to estimate the genetic parameters in the F2 population. During the rabi 2017-18 season, the F2 crosses were cultivated alongside ten parents, with data collected on seven yield and yield-contributing characteristics. The genetic coefficient of variation was notably high for the number of pods per plant and yield per plant. Estimates of heritability (h) in the broad sense indicated a high range for yield per plant (40.12-92.14%) and a moderate to high range for the number of pods per plant (21.89-85.70%). Significant genetic advancement was anticipated across all F2 populations, particularly for plant height at maturity (15.88-26.83), the number of pods per plant (10.72-47.49), and yield per plant (4.22-13.62). Fourteen crosses were identified based on their elevated means, genotypic coefficient of variation, broad-sense heritability, and genetic advances for economically significant traits, such as the number of pods per plant and yield per plant.