Genetic variation, character association and evaluation of  mungbean genotypes for agronomic and yield components

Forty genotypes of mungbean were evaluated  to compare the genetic divergence and association among  agronomic and yield characteristics. Analysis of variance  indicated highly significant (p < 0.01) differences for all  the traits except for 1000 seed weight. The phenotypic and  genotypic coefficient of variation was the highest for grain yield  per plant, followed by pod length. High broad sense heritability  (> 60 %) along with high genetic advance was observed for  total yield per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod and  plant height, indicating that these characteristics would be best  for phenotypic selection. A significant negative correlation  was observed between days to flowering and total yield per  plant. Positive correlations were observed between plant  height, pod length and 1000 seed weight with total yield per  plant. Multivariate analysis showed that the first three principal  components cumulatively accounted for 69.77 % of the total  variation. The present findings could be useful in selecting  superior genotypes in mungbean breeding programmes.