Genetic Variability Studies in Crossandra (crossandra Infundibuliformis)

Studies were conducted to investigate the variability on growth, flowering, yield and quality parameters of crossandra (Crossandra undulaefolia Salisb.). The study carried out at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Horticulture, College of Horticulture Munirabad, Koppal. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Completely Block Design (RCRD) with ten varieties/genotypes. Genetic parameters such as, Genetic advance, Genotypic variance, Phenotypic variance, Broad sense heritability, Genotypic and Phenotypic coefficient of variation (GCV, PCV), Genetic advance as per cent of mean for different characters of crossandra genotypes. The highest phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean was noticed for plant spread, number of primary and secondary branches, leaf area, chlorophyll content, duration of flowering, number of flowers per spike, spike length, 100 flower weight, flower yield per plant, per plot and per hectare and Flowering parameters such as days taken to flower bud initiation, days taken to 50 % flowering, days taken to first harvest and corolla length have lower estimates of GCV and PCV and moderate estimates of GCV and PCV noticed for plant height, plant spread and flower diameter. The magnitude of heritability in broad sense was high for all the characters under study except for flowering duration. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent mean was recorded for characters flower yield (kg/plot), flower yield (g / plant), number of spikes per plant, flower yield (t/ha), spike length, number of primary branches per plant, number of flowers per spike, shelf life, number of secondary branches per plant, leaf area, total chlorophyll, weight of 100 flowers (g), flower diameter However, high heritability associated with high GA proves more useful for efficient improvement of a character through simple selection. Thus, these characters can be improved through pure line selection.