Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis for yield and biochemical traits in velvet bean [Mucuna pruriens (L.)]

Abstract

Mucuna pruriens (L.) is an important medicinal plant and belonging to the family Fabaceae. The seeds of velvet bean are used in Ayurvedic System of Medicine to relief the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Correlation studies provide information about the relative contribution of various component traits on seed yield per plant and help in effective identification and selection of superior types. Fifteen F1 crosses resulting from 6 x 6 half diallel design without reciprocals were evaluated for yield and yield attributing traits. Higher estimates of GCV and PCV were recorded for inflorescence length. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for dry pod yield per plant, seed yield per plant and these traits were governed by additive gene action hence those traits can be effective to improve the seed yield by selection method. In the present correlation studies, the characters like days taken to 50 percent flowering (rg=0.50 *, rp= 0.47 *), number of flowers per inflorescence (rg=0.54 *, rp=0.51 *), number of pods per bunch (rg=0.63 * *, rp= 0.59 * *) and dry pod yield per plant (rg=1.00 * *, rp=0.92 * *) and seeds per pod (rg=0.53 *, rp=0.48*) had exhibited significant and positive association with seed yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels and number of days taken to maturity had significant negative association with seed yield per plant at both levels. The results suggest the efficiency of direct selection of those contributing traits for seed yield improvement. However, in the path coefficient analysis showed that days taken to 50 percent flowering, number of flowers per inflorescence, pod length, number of pods per bunch, dry pod yield per plant, days taken to maturity and 100 seed weight had exerted direct effect on seed yield. The other traits plant height, inflorescence length, pod width, pod weight, number of bunches per plant and seeds per pod through positive indirect effects on seed yield per plant. For improving the seed yield in velvet bean emphasis should be selection on the characters that are showing direct positive effect on seed yield.