Abstract
Rapid and uniform seed germination and seedling emergence have been associated with grain yield under diverse environmental conditions. Twenty-one (21) mung bean accessions were evaluated at Ile-Ife and Kishi out-stations of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR & T), Nigeria, to identify the emergence parameter(s) that could be selected for improvement of mung bean for yield. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. Data were collected on emergence and yield parameters and analysed using the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS). Mean, heritability, and correlation coefficient were estimated. Path coefficient analysis was used to partition correlations into direct and indirect effects using seed yield as the dependent variable. Heritability estimate was moderate to high for most of the traits. Accessions 3, 6, 14 and 15 with high pod and seed yield had also high values of coefficient of velocity of emergence (CVE) and emergence percentage (E%). All emergence parameters except emergence energy had significant correlation with yield traits. CVE and Emergence Index (EI) had strong positive correlation with number of seeds.pod-1 and pod yield. When only the emergence parameters were considered, CVE had highest direct effect (0.74) on seed yield followed by E% (-0.73) and EI (0.70). Total indirect effects of EI and CVE accounted for only 6.06% and 11.9% of the total correlation, respectively. It therefore suggests that EI and CVE are emergence parameters that could be selected for at early stage in improvement of mung bean for yield.