Assessment of genetic variability for yield and its contributing traits in blackgram.

Thirty blackgram genotypes collected from all over the country were grownat two locations duringZaid and Kharif seasons in 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the genetic variability and to determine the genetically diverse genotypes that could be used in hybridization programme for yield enhancement. High phenotypic coefficient of variation was obtained for number of pods per plant, plant height at maturity and grain yield per plant while genotypic coefficient of variation was high for number of pods per plant and grain yield per plant. Heritability was found to be high (> 60%) for all the characters studied except plant height at maturity, which showed moderate heritability. Highheritable value coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for number of pods perplant, number of clusters per plant, number of seeds per pod, seed index and grain yield per plant, suggesting their utility for effective selection for yield improvement of blackgram.