Study on the Variability, Heritability, and Genetic Advance in Indigenous Dolichos Bean (Dolichos lablab L. var typicus) Genotypes

Indian bean is an important vegetable crop of Indian origin. It occupies a unique position for vegetable purposes among the legume vegetables. It is a good source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins. The aim of the study is to explore the heritability, variability, and genetic advancement of the Indian bean. The experiment was conducted in an RBD with three replications during rabi, 2010-11 at the NBPGR Regional Station, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), India. Thirty-four genotypes of Dolichos bean were evaluated for genetic variability among characters. Genetic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability, and genetic advance as per cent of mean were estimated for fifteen yields and yield contributing characters. The differences between PCV and GCV were low for days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, internode length (cm), days to first pod harvest, pod length (cm), pod width (cm), pod weight (g), plant height (cm) and number of seeds per pod indicating that these traits are less influenced by environment and the effect of heritable components was high. Range, mean, standard error of the mean, and critical difference for each character were computed. Analysis of variance was carried out as per the standard procedure. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded by all the characters except for leaf width (cm), leaf length (cm), and number of pods per plant indicating additive action of genes controlling them. So, the study concluded that individual plant selection for characters viz., marketable pod yield per plant, number of pods per plant, pod length, and pod weight showed high values of heritability, genetic advance, GCV, and PCV concomitantly, would directly be effective in the progeny of dolichos bean. The study recommended that the breeder should adopt a suitable breeding methodology to utilize both additive and non-additive gene effects simultaneously.