Principal Component Analysis and Genetic Association of Seed Related Traits in an Underutilized Pulse Crop, Ricebean (Vigna umbellata)

Abstract

Background: Seed related traits are important since they directly draw consumer preference. But there are only limited numbers of studies with reference to seed related traits. Hence, the present study was undertaken to study the genetic diversity and genetic relationship among seed traits in ricebean. Methods: During Rabi, 2022-23, a set of 109 ricebean germplasm with seven checks were evaluated in Augmented design II at Department of Pulses, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Result: Morphological characterization of 109 genotypes revealed that green yellow was the predominant seed coat colour. Seed coat pattern was absent in most of the genotypes and in rest of the genotypes, speckled type was predominant. The traits viz., bulk density, seed volume and hundred seed weight exhibited high heritability with high genetic advance as per cent of mean. Seed volume, seed thickness, bulk density, seed length and seed breadth evidenced highly significant and positive association with hundred seed weight. PCA analysis revealed that the traits viz., length breadth ratio, bulk density, hundred seed weight, seed volume, seed length and seed thickness contributed to the maximum genetic variability. In addition, it also earmarked the best performing genotypes for each seed related trait. Hence, the above findings could be effectively utilized for the development of ricebean cultivars with ideal seed characteristics.