Variation among the individuals of a population due to their genetic constitution is important for varietal adaptability and effective selection. The biological variation consists of (1) Phenotypic (2) Genotypic and (3) Environmental components. The phenotypic variability consists of genetic and environmental variation and is observable.
The genetic variability is the inherent variation which consists of additive, dominance and epistatic components. Following are reviews available on genetic variability .However only few of them reviewed here. Deokar et al. (1985) reported wide range of variability for plant height, number of capitula per plant, seed yield per plant in safflower. The genotypic coefficient of variation was ranged between 34 per cent for hull content and 29.39 per cent for seed yield per plant.
Mane et al. (1999) reported that a closed resemblance between the corresponding estimated of PCV and GCV suggestion that the environment had little role in the expressions of different characters. High PCV were recorded for number of seed/capsule for number of secondary branch under irrigated conditions , where as it was highest in number of secondary branches following number of sees/capsular under rainfed conditions. Seta et al. (1999) studied that in vitro pollen (s) can also be used as alternate source in creations genetic variability which can be utilized in conventional breeding program aimed at the improvement of certain agronomic traits such as seed yield and oil content.
Chaudhary and Banerjee (1999) observed high phenotypic and genotypic variation in seed yield per plant, number of capitula per plant and plant height. High phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation values were observed for number of capitula per plant and plant height.
