Genetic Diversity and Variability in Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]

Fifty two genotypes of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) were evaluated in randomized block design during rainy season of 2005 at Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Jodhpur for eight characters to estimate genetic diversity, variability, heritability and genetic advance as a percentage of mean. Characters like seed yield, pod length, pods/plant, primary branches/plant, 100-seed weight and pod length exhibited high variability and heritability coupled with genetic advance. The hierarchical cluster analysis indicated the presence of considerable genetic divergence among the genotypes. The genotypes were grouped into eight clusters using Ward's minimum variance method. The inter-cluster Euclidean² distance was maximum between cluster V and VIII (54.3) followed by cluster V and VII (41.7) and cluster II and III (40.0). Cluster V showed by the maximum cluster means for plant height, primary branches/plant, pods/plant and days to 50% flowering, cluster II for pod length and seeds/pod, cluster VII for seed yield and cluster VIII for 100-seedweight. Contribution of different characters towards total genetic divergence revealed maximum contribution of pod length (24.5%) followed by seed yield (19.5%) and 100-seed weight (17.7%).