Estimation of Genetic Variability for Yield and Yield Components Traits in M₃ Generation of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.)

In the present investigation variability induced by ten quantitative characters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, plant spread, days to flowering, pod yield, seed yield, shelling percentage, number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight and plant dry weight in M₃ generation of Bambara groundnut genotype SB42 were recorded. Variance and Coefficient of variance increased for all the characters as compared tocontrol genotype SB-42. It indicates that variability can be created for characters through induced mutation. High heritability and high genetic advance as per cent mean were observed for all the characters except for plant height, suggesting that these characters were governed by additive gene action. Therefore selection of traits like pods per plant, pod yield, and seed yield will be effective and further improvement can be achieved.