Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Quantitative Characters in Rice Fallow Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]

Abstract

An investigation was carried out with thirty six blackgram genotypes in rice fallow situation, to assess the variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield attributing characters. The results revealed that high PCV and GCV for number of clusters per plant and high PCV coupled with moderate GCV for number of branches per plant and grain yield per plant exhibiting wider range of variability. Whereas, number of pods per plant and 100 seed weight recorded moderate variability. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for number of branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight and grain yield per plant indicating that the heritability was due to additive gene effects which may be exploited through breeding methods involving simple selection like pedigree method, mass selection, ear-to-row methods for the improvement of these traits.