1Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007
Variation pattern for eight quantitative traits was analysed in eight natural populations of V. radiata (L.) Wilezek var. sublobata (Roxb.) Verde, inhabiting four different localities (Shenbaganur, Manjampatty, Puyalset and Memballam) in Palney Hills of Western Ghats in Tamilnadu. The populations were well-differentiated with respect to all the phenotypic traits analysed. Population V5 was very distinct from all other populations and could be used in generating transgressive variation. Except the length of flower which showed stability, all other traits revealed plastic responses. The phenotypic flexibility and high coefficient of genetic variance in yield components could be employed in the improvement of cultivars for all the characters (except the number of tubercles per inflorescence). The contribution of 'between regions' to the total per cent variance component was negligible suggesting that the populations represented local races and that there was no relationship between the variability patterns of different populations and the edaphic factors of their habitats.
