Analysis of genetic diversity in newly developed genotypes of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

Genetic divergence was studied for grain yield and six other morphological characters in mungbean. Divergence study helped in grouping 26 mungbean genotypes into five diverse clusters. Maximum number of genotypes (10) was grouped into cluster II, followed by 8 in clusters IV and the lowest (1) in cluster V. Clustering of population did not follow their geographic or location distribution. MYMV, days to 50% flowering, Days to maturity and pods per contributed maximum towards the divergence. Mean value of cluster III (IPM 02 -09-3, MH 2–15, IPM 02-09-1 and Ganga-1) ranked first for grain yield along with lowest infestation of MYMV. Earliest flowering genotype along with lowest plant height and highest 100 seed weight was clustered in monogenotypic cluster V (SML 668). The maximum distance was between cluster II (MGG 360, RMG 989, RVSM 11, KM 2268, ML 1472, GM 04–02, KM 2272, MH 721, NDMZ 09–18 and Ganga-8) and V (SML 668) The genotypes grouped in these clusters can be used in breeding programme in order to get a wide spectrum of variability and transgressive segregants. A higher heritability (broad sense) estimate associated with good estimates of genetic advance expected in the next generation for grain yield, pods per plant, 100-seed weight and plant height suggested that these characters are governed by additive genetic effect and improvement of these characters would be effective through phenotypic selection.