CHAPTER - I

INTRODUCTION
Italian millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv] is one of the important small millets. It is commonly known as korra, in Andhra radesh. It is one of the world!s oldest cultivated crops. Its domestication and cultivation is estimated to have occurred over "### years a$o (%han$, &'()). It was the most important food crop of the *eolithic culture in %hina. +o,tail millet ranks second in the worlds total production of millets and is an important staple food for millions of people in -outhern .urope and Asia (/arathee, &''0). It is cultivated in Andhra radesh, 1arnataka, /aharashtra and 2illy Areas of *orthern India. +o,tail millet with a short $rowin$ period is $rown e,tensively in diverse a$ro3 climatic re$ions for $rain and fodder. It is known for its drou$ht tolerance and is an indispensa4le crop of vast rainfed areas in semi3arid re$ions in India. It is also $rown in nutrient deficient soils and possesses tolerance to pests and diseases. 5he $rain is a $ood source of protein and contains 63carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin3A (/uru$an and *irmalakumari, 7##(). 1eepin$ the a4ove points in view, the present study was takenup to evaluate the diverse $enotypes of Italian millet with followin$ o48ectives. &. 5o assess the ma$nitude of $enetic varia4ility in the $enotypes of Italian millet.

7. 5o study the character association 4etween various yield components and yield and amon$ the components in $enotypes of Italian millet. 0. 5o know the direct and indirect effect of the component characters towards yield in the $enotypes of Italian millet. ". 5o estimate $enetic diver$ence in the diverse $enotypes of Italian millet.