Genetic diversity studies in advance breeding lines of Blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)

Abstract

Black gram (Vigna mungo L.) prominent pulse crop has facing severe constraints in realising the yield potential. The present study was conducted to assess the genetic variability and divergence among 30 genotypes using multivariate approaches at the Agricultural Research station, Amadalavalasa, ANGRAU, which help in crop improvement. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits studied, confirming the presence of considerable genetic variability for selection. Genetic divergence analysis grouped the genotypes into six distinct clusters, indicating wide genetic diversity that was not strictly associated with geographical origin. The intra-cluster distance was maximum (12.12) in cluster III followed by cluster II (12.01). The maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster IV and VI, suggesting that hybridization between these clusters may produce superior recombinants. Mean performance of clusters indicated that clusters II and V were superior for seed yield and yield-contributing traits, whereas clusters I and VI were desirable sources for earliness. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the first three principal components accounted for 79.52% of the total variability, mainly governed by seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant and days to maturity. Genotypes such as PBG 276, LBG 904 and PU 31 were identified as high-yielding and genetically distinct, while GBG 79, GBG 1 and GBG 92 were found promising for earliness. The combination of cluster and PCA analyses confirmed the existence of substantial genetic divergence among the evaluated material. The identified superior and diverse genotypes can serve as potential parents in recombination breeding programs aimed at developing high-yielding and early-maturing black gram cultivars with improved adaptability.