Genetic improvement of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is to a certain extent limited by a poor knowledge of genetic variability. Estimation of variability is highly important and is always considered as the first step in any crop improvement programme. With this in view, the current study was planned to assess the variability in F 1 seedlings of crosses made between eight cassava genotypes in Line x Tester method. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference for all the agronomic traits studied. Majority of the characters like Plant Height(cm), Stem Girth(cm), Root Length(cm), Number of Roots, Girth Of Tuber(cm), exhibit moderate PCV, GCV values and Number of Tubers exhibits higher GCV and PCV values indicating greater variation for these traits and thus there is greater scope for further improvement by genetic manipulation. All the characters exhibited high broad sense heritability. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean for the characters suggesting that they can be improved through direct selection due to predominant additive variation. The estimation of descriptive statistics of different morphological traits studied in the present investigation revealed the existence of a high level of morphological variability among them, providing scope for improvement through hybridization and selection and need to constitute a pool of germplasm with adequate variability.

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