Performance of Horse Gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (L.) Verdc] Germplasm for Seed Yield and Its Component Characters

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with 78 diverse horse gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (L.) Verdc] genotypes along with 4 checks during the late Kharif season. Data was recorded on days to 50 percent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, pod weight (g), seed yield per plant (g), and 100-seed weight (g). Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among all the genotypes for all the characters studied. A wide range of variations had been observed for all the characters except for the number of seeds per pod. The highest coefficient of variation was observed in the number of pods per plant followed by 100 seed weight and seed yield per plant. The phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits but the differences were narrow. The highest magnitude of PCV and GCV were recorded for seed yield per plant (g) followed by pod weight (g) indicating a wide range of variation which provides a chance for yield improvement. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, pod weight, seed yield per plant, and 100 seed weight indicating additive gene action and the abundant scope for improvement in these traits through simple selection. This study provides information about the performance of the genotypes and identifies some prominent genotypes. Thirty-three genotypes recorded significantly higher seed yield per plant as compared to the best-performing check. These genotypes were IC 426292, IC 470167, IC 426471, IC 470229, IC 470206, IC 470262, IC 426464, IC 107247, IC 108076, IC 426550, IC 426540, IC 108078, IC 426537, IC 470166, IC 467865, CRHG-1, IC 426539, IC 426478, IC 426524, IC 426549, IC 426522, IC 470170, IC 261278, IC 470188, IC 426535, IC 107222, IC 226533, IC 426574, IC 426523, IC 526965, IC 426571, IC 426517 and IC 426538. These genotypes may be further used for parental selection in breeding programs for the improvement of yield and its attributes in horse gram.