Vol. 8, Issue 5 (2019)

Author(s):
R Deepa, S Balakrishnan, V Jegadeeswari, G Thiribhuvanamala and N Kumaravadivel

Abstract:
Evaluation of variability, heritability and genetic advance of various traits in cocoa clones is an important step to identify the vital characters which attribute to yield. Genetic parameters for yield and its correspondent characters of nine TNAU cocoa clones were estimated low, moderate and high phenotypic coefficient of variations (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variations (GCV) were observed among the nine clones. Wet bean weight per pod recorded high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient variations, whereas stem girth, number of flowers per tree, number of beans per pod, dry bean weight per pod (g) and dry bean weight per pod (g) showed moderate Genotypic and Phenotypic coefficient of variation. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was exhibited by number of flower sper tree, number of beans per pod, single dry bean weight per pod and dry bean weight per pod. Hence these characters may be used as major descriptors to select high yielding cocoa clones.