No abstract

The mean specific leaf area (SLA) at 60 DAS ranged from 163.2 cm 2 g -1 (TCGS-1821) to 265.4 (TCGS-1825). SPAD chlorophyll meter reading at 60 DAS ranged from 39.50 (TCGS-1876) to 49.60 (TCGS-1523). Number of well-filled and mature pods per plant ranged from 7.8 (TCGS-1869) to 45.0 (TCGS-1835). 100-pod weight (g) ranged from 62.0g (Dharani) to 104.7 g (TCGS-1807). Shelling percent varied from 61.7% (TCGS-1817) to 74.3% (Dharani). 100-kernel weight ranged from 26.7g (TCGS-1522) to 44.7g (TCGS-1537). The range of variation for mean pod yield per plant was between 4.0g (TCGS-1869) and 31.2 (TCGS-1514). High GCV and PCV values were observed for number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of well-filled and mature pods per plant, number of immature pods per plant, dry haulms yield per plant and pod yield per plant. Heritability values ranged from 18.9 per cent (sound mature kernel per cent) to 95.9 per cent (plant height). Genetic advance as per cent of mean values ranged from 1.9 per cent (sound mature kernel per cent) to 186.9 per cent (number of secondary branches per plant). The estimates of high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean were observed for plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of well-filled and mature pods per plant, number of immature pods per plant and pod yield per plant indicating the importance of additive gene effects, selection for such characters may be rewarding.

Drought is the single most factor limiting productivity under rainfed conditions. High temperatures associated with drought also affect many physiological processes in plant resulting poor yield. Further, heat tolerance will be necessary because of global climatic change (Schneider,