RESPONSE TO SELECTION AND EARLY GENERATION EVALUATION IN PEA

Abstract

The response to selection was estimated in F3, F4 and Fs generations from the plants selected in F2 and F3 generations of the cross HPPC 63 XLincoln. The response to selection and realised heritability increased in the successive generations. The plants selected in F2 generation did not show any correlation with their progenies in F3 and F4 generations for all the traits except resistance to powdery mildew disease which showed consistancy in subsequent generations also. However, the plants selected in F3 generation showed positive correlation with their progenies in F4 and Fs generations for seed yield, pods/plant, l00-seed weight, harvest index, and reaction to powdery mildew. Maximum response was observed in Fs generation when selection was practised in F3 generation. The study, therefore, revealed that selection for polygenic traits like seed yield should preferably be done after F2 generation. However, selection for monogenic or oligogenic traits like resistance to powdery mildew can be practised in F2 generation itself.