Genetic improvement of greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) for yield through pod and seed characters

Grain yield is a polygenically controlled trait which depends on many other component characters. But all the component characters are not directly associated with seed yield. Trait based yield improvement is always convenient for the plant breeders. In the present investigation, association analysis was carried out with five greengram genotypes (VGG 15-030, VGG 16-029, VGG 16-046, VGG 16-058 and VBN (Gg)2) of different duration, pod length and seed weight categories. Among the five genotypes, VGG 16-058 an extra early (55 days) and bold seeded (5.24g). VGG 15-030 was small seeded (2.94 g) genotype with small pod length (7.8 cm). Association analysis revealed that, in all the duration, pod length and seed weight categories, number of branches per plant, number of clusters per plant and number of pods per cluster was positively correlated with seed yield per plant. Genotype (VGG 16-029) with long pod (10.1 cm) and medium sized seed (4.4 g) alone had positive and significant association of all the yield traits with seed yield per plant. Besides, number of branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, the other yield attributes also can be considered like long pod (>10 cm) and medium sized seed (3.0-5.0 g) category as important parameters for the improvement of greengram yield.