Genetic variability and character association for biometrical traits in Blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)

In the present investigation, eleven quantitative characters were evaluated in eighty genotypes of blackgram during Rabi 2014-15 seasons to assess the genetic variability and character association. The genotypes differed significantly for all the characters studied. The highest GCV recorded for number of branches per plant, seed yield per plant, number of clusters per plant, branch length, number of pods per plant and plant height. High heritability was recorded for branch length, number of branches, plant height, clusters per plant, seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant and pod length. The highest genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for number of branches, seed yield per plant, cluster per plant, branch length, pods per plant and plant height. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for branch length, number of branches, plant height, clusters per plant, seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant. Seed yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with pods per plant, clusters per plant, number of seeds per pod, plant height, branch length, 100 seed weight, number of branches and pod length at both phenotypic and genotypic level. The characters pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and 100 seed weight exerted high positive direct association with seed yield. Number of pods per plant showed highly positive indirect effect on seed yield via number of clusters per plant, number of branches, plant height and branch length. Hence, selection based on number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and hundred seed weight would result in improving the seed yield of blackgram.