*Corresponding author’ E-mail: nrai1964@gmail.com
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Wide range of phenotypic variation along with high heritability values observed in 66 pole type French bean genotypes. Number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight, green pods yield per plant showed high heritability along with high genetic advance. Association studies revealed that pod yield per plant exhibited significant positive correlation with number of pods/plant, % fruit set per cluster and 100 seed weight at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Maximum direct effect was observed in number of pods/plant followed by % fruit set/cluster, number of seeds/pod towards yield. Hence, these characters have significant effect on yield, while making selection for high yielding genotypes. Multivariate hierarchical clustering classified 66 genotypes in 2 groups with 23 and 43 genotypes. First group further divided into 2 groups with 1 and 22 genotypes (VRBFB-36 is genetically different from 22 other genotypes), while 43 genotypes divided into 2 clusters with 9 and 34 genotypes respectively.
French bean, variability, correlation, path coefficient analysis, hierarchical clustering
