Estimation of Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Essential Oil Yield and Related Traits in Genus Ocimum

Assessing variability is fundamental to identify the most important traits in Ocimum improvement program. The objective of the present study was to estimate variability, heritability and genetic advance based on twelve morphological characters of Ocimum. The experiment was conducted in 2015/16 main cropping season at one location by using randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed highly significant differences (P<0.01) among genotypes for all characters considered. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for all character was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). The estimation of broad sense heritability ĥ2(BS)% was observed to be lower than those of broad sense heritability ĥ2(BS)% for all characters. Genetics advance was recorded as maximum for eugenol content (96.65). Highest heritability in broad sense ĥ2(BS)% recorded for days to maturity (99.46). On the basis of study accessions G-4, G-7, G-9, G-11, G-18 and G-25 were identified high oil of better quality. These accessions may be exploited for commercial cultivation.