Recent Overview of Genetic Variability and Correlation Studies in Urdbean (Vigna mungo L.)

Genetic variability and correlations among 133 accessions of urdbean collected from different agroecological zones of Southern and South–Eastern Rajasthan, India was assessed for several qualitative and quantitative traits. These accessions along with two national checks ‘KU 96-3’ and‘RBU 38’ were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications at experimental field of Agricultural Research Station, Ummedganj, Kota (25.180N and 75.860E), Rajasthan, India during kharif 2009 and 2010. Wide range of variability was observed for quantitative traits. Plant height (cm),
primary branches and pods per plant showed high genetic advance and moderate heritability. This suggests that the selection based on these traits would be useful in improving the seed yield. Seed yield per plant showed strong positive correlation with number of pods per plant and number of
branches per plant and strong negative correlation with days to fifty per cent flowering and days to maturity. Path coefficient analysis also revealed number of pods per plant and number of branches per plant to be the major direct and indirect yield contributing traits in black gram. The genotypes like KPU 1099, KPU 1057 and KPU 1086 can be used as promising donor parents in recombination breeding programme for obtaining high heterotic response and better segregates.