Genetic divergence in advanced breeding lines and varieties of mungbean

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the genetic divergence of 100 mungbean genotypes using Mahalanobis D2 analysis.  Among the traits studied, the number of branches contributed maximum percentagetowards the total genetic divergence. The genotypes were grouped into fifteen clusters, with cluster I having themaximum number of genotypes. Maximum intra-cluster distance was recorded in cluster I indicating higher diversityamong genotypes of this cluster. Cluster V and XV recorded maximum inter-cluster distance indicating widerdivergence between genotypes of these clusters. Likewise, clusters III and XII also recorded wider divergence.Hybridization between genotypes of cluster V (VGG 16-035, VGG 17- 004) and cluster XV (VGG 17-009) followedby cluster III (VGG 18-012) and cluster XII (ADT 3) could yield better segregants. High mean performances for thenumber of clusters per plant, the number of pods per cluster, the total number of pods per plant and seed yield perplant was observed in cluster XIII (VGG 15-030). This genotype can be utilised for further crop improvement programmes in mungbean.