author(s)
Ashutosh Patidar and Dr. Devi Singh

abstract
A set of ten genotypes of fennel were evaluated for studying of “Studies on Genetic Variability and Character association in Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)”. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Block Design with three replications during the Rabi season, 2021 at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. The data were recorded from five randomly selected plants for each genotype in all the replications for twelve characters. From the present investigation it is concluded that among 10 genotypes of fennel on the basis of mean performance 2 genotypes namely; Sugandha-111 and Surbhi had maximum seed yield per plant and performed better for other desirable traits as compared to Kalyan (Check). Analysis of variance showed the presence of significant variation among different genotypes for all characters studied. Number of primary branches per plant and seed yield per hectare exhibited moderate estimates of GCV and PCV and also High estimates of Heritability (Broad-sense). Therefore, these characters should be given priority during selection for improvement in fennel. Positive and significant correlation was observed for number of umbels per plant, number of umbellet per umbel, number of seeds per umbel, seed yield per hectare and seed index with seed yield per plant at both phenotypic and genotypic level. Path Coefficient analysis revealed that days to maturity, number of primary branches per plant, number of seeds per umbel, seed index and harvest index had direct positive effect on seed yield per plant at genotypic level. While days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of umbels per plant, number of umbellet per umbel, number of seeds per umbel, seed yield per hectare and seed index had direct positive effect on seed yield per plant at phenotypic level. Selection in these traits will lead to higher efficiency in breeding programme for improving yield. Thus these traits may be ranked as most important attributing traits for seed yield per plant in fennel.