Studies on genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in yardlong bean (Vigna ungiculata (L.) walp. ssp. sesquipedalis verdc.)

The present investigation was carried to study genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance among 24 genotypes of yardlong bean collected from various locations. The results revealed that PCV was greater than GCV for all the characters indicating the influence of environment in the expression of traits. High PCV and GCV were observed for the traits like number of primary branches per plant, pod length, number of pods per plant, ascorbic acid content, 100 seed weight, pod yield per plant, pod yield per plot and pod yield per hectare. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were reported with the traits like vine length, number of primary branches per plant, number of nodes per plant, pod length, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, pod ascorbic acid content, 100 seed weight, pod yield per plant, pod yield per plot and pod yield per hectare. This indicates that these traits are under the control of additive gene action and directional phenotypic selection for these traits in segregating populations could be effective for desired genetic improvement.