Genetic variability and correlation studies in urdbean (Vigna mungo L.)

Genetic variability and correlations among 133 accessions of urdbean collected from different agro-ecological zones of Southern and Southeastern Rajasthan, India was assessed for eight quantitative traits. These accessions along with two national checks ‘KU 96-3’ and ‘RBU 38’ were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications at experimental field of Agricultural Research Station, Ummedganj, Kota Rajasthan, India during kharif 2009 and 2010. Wide range of variability was observed for quantitative traits. Plant height (cm), primary branches and pods per plant showed high genetic advance and moderate heritability. Seed yield per plant showed strong positive correlation with number of pods per plant and number of branches per plant and strong negative correlation with days to fifty per cent flowering and days to maturity. Path coefficient analysis also revealed that number of pods per plant and number of branches per plant had major direct and indirect effect on yield contributing traits in urdbean.