Variability and character association studies in dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.) genotypes

The present investigation was carried out at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari Dist. (Andhra Pradesh). The experimental material comprised of 12 genotypes of Lablab purpureus collected from IIPR Kanpur and AICRP on pigeon pea Bangalore. A wide range of variability was reported in most of the characters. The highest genotypic coefficient of variation was recorded for number of pods per plant followed by pod yield per hectare and lowest in days to first pod harvest. Higher heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean were observed for all the characters except days to first harvest and pod width. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that number of secondary branches per plant, number of inflorescences per plant, number of pods per inflorescence, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, pod width, days to last harvest and 100 seed weight had the significant positive correlation with marketable green pod yield per plant. Path analysis revealed true relationship between yield and number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per inflorescence and number of pods per plant and direct selection for these traits will be rewarding for yield improvement as correlation was due to direct effect of the characters. Hence, selection based on these characters could be effective in developing high yielding varieties of dolichos bean for coastal Andhra Pradesh.