Genetic variability in segregating generations of greengram ( Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) for quantitative traits

Variability studies were carried out in the present study for eight quantitative traits such as days to first flowering, plant height, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, total number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and single plant yield. Significant variability did exist among F2 of two crosses for all the eight quantitative characters recorded. The variation was recorded to be the highest for plant height followed by number of pods per plant. Highest GCV and PCV estimates were observed for number of pods per plant in all the three crosses. Hence direct selection based on these traits would be effective. Based on heritability and genetic advance, most of the traits except plant height and single plant yield recorded high heritability coupled with low genetic advance in all these crosses. These findings revealed presence of dominance and epitasis gene effect and the selection based on these traits may not be rewarding.