Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) Accessions

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability in broad sense and genetic advance among thirteen mung bean accessions for growth and grain yield characters. The study was conducted at the Haramaya University Rare research site and Hirna research site during the 2012/2013 cropping season. Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications was used for both locations. Each genotype was planted on a 1.2 X 2m plot consisting of four rows, which accommodates ten plants per row and thus 40 plants per plot. The result showed that number of primary branches, pods per plant, seeds per plant and harvest index had high genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation at both locations. For all characters, phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation indicating that there was environmental influence on these traits. The combined results for heritability showed that the high estimates of heritability and genetic advance were scored for seeds per plant and seed yield indicating that these characters were under the control of additive genetic effects. High genetic advance expected as percent of mean coupled with high heritability was observed for number of primary branches at Hirna, number of seeds per plant at Rare and number of secondary branches, pods per plant and 100seed weight for combined analysis. The present findings could be useful for establishing selection criteria for high seed yield in the mung bean breeding.