Genetic Variability and Association Analysis of Yield and Its Component Traits in Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.)

The present investigation was undertaken to assess the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, character association and direct and indirect effects of yield and its component traits in green gram (Vigna radiata L.). A set of 48 green gram genotypes was evaluated during the Rabi season of 2022 at the experimental field of B.N. College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Biswanath Chariali, Assam, in a randomised block design with three replications. Significant differences among genotypes were observed for all 15 quantitative traits, indicating substantial genetic variability. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for yield per plant, harvest index, pods per plant and clusters per plant. Broad-sense heritability was high for all the traits, while high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean was observed for harvest index, yield per plant, pods per plant, clusters per plant, pods per cluster, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight, primary branches, plant height and fruit-setting capacity, suggesting the predominance of additive gene action and the effectiveness of selection for these traits. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations of seed yield per plant with clusters per plant, pods per cluster, pods per plant, seeds per pod, fruit-setting capacity and harvest index, whereas flowering and maturity traits generally showed negative associations with yield. Path coefficient analysis identified pods per cluster as an important direct contributor to yield, along with plant height, pod length, clusters per plant and harvest index. These traits may therefore serve as useful selection criteria for identifying superior genotypes and improving seed yield in green gram breeding programmes.