Genetic variability and correlation studies in advance inter-specific and inter-varietal lines and cultivars of mungbean (Vigna radiata)

The PCV, GCV, heritability, genetic advance and correlation coefficient analysis was conducted for eight quantitative characters in 20 mungbean and one blackgram genotypes of intra-and inter-specific origin. The genotypes differed significantly for all the characters studied. High values of estimated heritability (broad sense) were obtained for plant height (94.55), pod length (92.48) and 100-seed weight (80.11). Phenotypic coefficients of variation were larger than genotypic coefficients of variation for all the characters studied. High expected genetic advance as per cent of mean (50.46) coupled with high heritability (80.11) was observed for 100-seed weight. Higher GCV and PCV values were obtained for yield/plant (30.94, 39.31), 100-seed weight (27.37, 30.58) and pods/plant (26.16, 34.07). Yield/plant was observed to exhibit highly significant positive correlation with pods/plant (0.85), 100-seed weight (0.68) and pod length (0.46). Yield/plant exhibited significant and negative correlation with days to initial and 50% flowering, suggesting that breeding for early flowering may be progressed with caution so that yield is not hampered while utilizing diverse germplasm.