Little millet is a small seeded nutri-cereal, whose demand is gaining importance in recent days. So, it is important to estimate the extent of variability present in available germplasm which could be applied in selection procedures to develop consumer preferable varieties. Based on this, the present research was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle during Rabi, 2022-23 for 30 little millet genotypes by considering a total of 14 yield and yield components to study genetic parameters viz., genetic variability, heritability (broad sense) and genetic advance as percent of mean. From the observations, the analysis of variance was recorded significant differences for all the traits studied except for SCMR at both 50 DAS and 80 DAS. High GCV and PCV was recorded for leaf area index at both 50 DAS and 80 DAS along with number of productive tillers plant-1, main panicle weight, grain yield plot-1 and fodder yield plot-1, indicating that these characters were governed by additive gene action and simple selection could be rewarding. High heritability was observed for the traits leaf area index at 50 DAS followed by days to maturity, leaf area index at 80 DAS, days to 50% flowering, 1000 seed weight, number of productive tillers plant-1, panicle length, plant height, harvest index, grain yield plot-1 and fodder yield plot-1. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for all the characters except for days to maturity and SCMR at both 50 and 80 DAS, which concluded the better scope of these traits improvement through selection, as these characters are predominately governed by additive gene effects.

Little millet, genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance

Leaf area index at both 50 DAS and 80 DAS along with number of productive tillers plant-1, main panicle weight, grain yield plot-1 and fodder yield plot-1 recorded for having high GCV and PCV, indicated that these characters are governed by additive gene action and simple selection could be rewarding. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for all the characters except for days to maturity and SCMR at both 50 and 80 DAS, which concluded the better scope of their improvement through selection, as these characters are predominately governed by additive gene effects.

D. Swarna Latha, M. Sreevalli Devi, L. Madhavilatha and A.R. Nirmal Kumar (2023). Genetic Variability Studies for Grain Yield and Yield Components in Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 163-167.