Variability of some morphological characters in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Abstract

Field experiment was conducated during 2006–08 on the nature and variability with released varieties of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) for yield and yield attributes. Analysis of variability was carried out for 12 characters in 13 diverse varieties of fennel at Ajmer showed highly significant difference among varieties for all the characters. High genotypic and phenotypic variances were observed for umbel/plant, umbellate/umbel and seed yield/plant. The highest genotypic coefficient of variation was observed for yield/plot (18.23), followed by umbel/plant (15.10), umbellate/ umbel (9.19) and test weight (6.92). High genetic advances as percentage of mean was recorded for seed yield/plot, umbel/plant, umbellate/umbel, test weight, number of branches/plant, angle of primary branches, seed/umbel and plant height suggesting that phenotypic selection for these traits would be effective.