Component approach analysis in core germplasm of mungbean (vigna radiata (l.) wilczek)

Character association and path coefficient analysis were carried out in a set of core germplasm lines of mungbean which included 13 promising improved varieties, four popular locally adapted mungbean land races of Odisha (India), one wild form (TCR 20) of mungbean (Vigna radiata var. sublobata), one genotype of its closely related species Vigna mungo, cv. UG 218 (urdbean) and a popular mungbean variety LGG 460 as standard check. Seeds per plant followed by number of pods per plant, number of clusters per plant and seed weight revealed strong positive significant correlation with seed yield. In contrast, number of primary branches per plant and protein content had negative relationship with seed yield. Among the component traits, number of pods per plant had maximum direct effect on seed yield followed by clusters per plant and 100-seed weight. Seeds per plant though exhibited very high positive correlation with seed yield, it failed to influence seed yield directly at genotypic level. However, seeds per plant contributed indirectly to seed yield through number of clusters and number of pods per plant. Number of clusters per plant and number of pods per plant had shown high inter se indirect effects on seed yield at genotypic level. The merit of these two traits is further ascribed to their positive correlated response through other component traits e.g. seeds per plant, harvest index and seed weight.