Estimation of Genetic Variability and Diversity of a Wild Legume Vigna stipulacea (Lam.) Kuntz to Unravel its Fodder Potential

Abstract

To figure out the potential of Vigna stipulacea (Lam.) Kuntz for fodder yield, variability and diversity present in population was assessed by including thirty genotypes in randomized block design with three replications. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was reported for number of secondary branches plant-1, number of nodes plant-1, internodal length, green fodder yield plot-1, dry fodder yield plot-1, leaf dry weight plant-1, stem dry weight plant-1, plant height, Leaf area index (LAI) and leaf stem ratio (LSR). As there was high GCV, direct selection of these characters is feasible. High heritability combined with high genetic advance was observed for number of secondary branches plant-1, number of leaves plant-1, number of nodes plant-1, internodal length, green fodder yield plot-1, dry fodder yield plot-1, leaf dry weight plant-1, stem dry weight plant-1, seed yield plant-1, plant height, LAI and LSR implying that these traits were controlled by additive gene action where direct selection is possible. Based on cluster analysis, genotypes were grouped into five clusters and highest inter-cluster distance was found between clusters II and V implying greater divergence between cluster genotypes and can be considered as parents for hybridization. Cluster V and IV exhibited highest mean values for various traits contributing to fodder yield, genotypes belonged to these clusters can be utilized as parents for improving fodder yield of Vigna stipulacea.