Branching Pattern and Harvest Index as Important Selection Criteria for Improvement of Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek

Abstract

Thirty-six mungbean genotypes were evaluated for twenty-six agro-morphological traits to assess the genetic variability and genetic relationship. The maximum genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation was exhibited by number of secondary branches per plant followed by number of primary branches per plant, stem pubescence density, leaf pubescence density and leaf area. Among the agro-morphological traits, primary branch angle, biological yield per plant and harvest index exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, strong positive association and high positive direct effect on seed yield, suggested that cautious approach of optimizing these traits can be utilized for yield improvement of mungbean. The negative association of primary branch angle with main stem and biological yield per plant with harvest index reflected that relation of branch angle, which helps in the making of the canopy of the plant and biological yield per plant, need to be critically analyzed for reflecting seed yield per plant due to optimized harvest index.