Genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance in strawberry(Fragaria × ananassa Duch.)

Strawberry (Fragaria A— ananassa Duch.) genotypes were evaluated to study genetic variation and the relationship between yield and its component using a randomized complete block design during 2013/14. The results showed significant variance among genotypes of all traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for all the characters was slightly higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), which signified the presence of environmental influence to some degree in the phenotypic expression of characters. Dry fruit weight had the highest PCV (52.47) and GCV (48.26). The estimates of narrow sense heritability (h2) were observed to be lower than those of broad sense heritability (H2) for all the characters. Genetic advance was recorded as maximum for fruit yield per plant (76.84), whereas genetic advance as percent of mean was highest for dry fruit weight (84.09). Highest heritability (H2, 98.44) was coupled with higher genetic advance (76.84) estimated for fruit yield per plant, which indicated that the character is controlled by additive genes and therefore further improvement could brought by selection. Fruit yield was significantly and positively associated with most of the characters except number of leaves per plant, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid at both genotypic and phenotypic levels; therefore, these are important prerequisites to formulate a successful improvement program.