Genetic Analysis in Grain Legumes [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] for Yield Improvement and Identifying Heterotic Hybrids

Six mungbean parental lines and their fifteen F(1)s produced from half-diallel mating design were investigated for combining ability and heterosis in terms of a yield and its components. Results showed highly significant variations among the parents and F(1)s, suggesting a wide genetic variability for the studied characters. Analysis of variance indicated that genotypes mean square values, general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were highly significant (p <= 0.001) for all measured traits except for days to flowering, days to maturity, and pod length indicating genetic diversity of parents and both additive and non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of the measured traits. A higher effect of SCA than GCA for plant height and seeds per pod suggests the preponderance of non-additive gene effects in the expression of characters. Based on per se performance and GCA, BARI Mung-1, PS-7, and BMXK1-14004 were the best general combiners for yield per plant. In the context of SCA, hybrids BMXK1-14004 x Sonali mung, BMXK1-14004 x PS-7, BMXK1-14004 x BINA Mung-8, Sukumar x PS-7, and BARI Mung-1 x BINA Mung-8 were good specific combiners. BMXK1-14004 x Sonali mung and BMXK1-14004 x PS-7 were the best heterotic hybrids for yield and yield-contributing traits. These parents and crosses could be utilized for further use in breeding programs to improve yields in mungbean crops.

Automated summary

This study investigated the combining ability and heterosis of six mungbean parental lines and their F(1) hybrids. The results showed significant genetic variability among the parents and hybrids for yield and its components. Both additive and non-additive gene effects were involved in the inheritance of the measured traits. Specific combining ability had a higher effect than general combining ability for plant height and seeds per pod. BARI Mung-1, PS-7, and BMXK1-14004 were identified as the best general combiners for yield, while BMXK1-14004 x Sonali mung and BMXK1-14004 x PS-7 were the best heterotic hybrids.