ASSESSMENT OF VARIABILITY FOR SEED YIELD IN BACK CROSS DERIVED LINES OF BLACKGRAM (VIGNA MUNGO L. HEPPER)

The present experiment was conducted with 24 BC 2 F 4 progenies of the cross MDU 1 x TU 68 to investigate the variability in seed yield per plant.Results indicated the presence of a wide range of variability in the population.With the recurrent parent MDU 1, eight progenies recorded an on-par yield.All progenies showed high PCV, and 23 progenies showed high GCV.Sixteen progenies recorded high heritability, and 23 progenies had high genetic advance.Eight progenies had on-par seed yield with recurrent parent MDU 1 and high PCV, GCV, and heritability with high genetic advance.These results indicate that additive gene action is present in these progenies.Therefore, selection will be effective in improving the seed yield in these progenies.Additionally, testing these progenies for bruchid resistance could lead to the evolution of a high-yielding bruchid-resistant blackgram variety.