Study on Genetic Variability and Heritability in F3 Population of Yard Long Bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcourt) for Yield and its Components

Abstract

Yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcourt), is significant among legume vegetable crops. Global warming and climate change can significantly impact its cultivation, yield, and production. This study examined the F3 population of five yardlong bean families: F3-1, F3-2, F3-3, F3-4, and F3-5. The findings revealed that all five families exhibited high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for yield per plant, indicating substantial variability for these traits in their progenies. For all the characters under consideration, the genotypic variation coefficient was lower than the phenotypic coefficient of variation. High heritability, along with high genetic advance per mean (GAM), was observed in pod weight, pods per plant, yield per plant, and vine length. This indicates significant potential for selecting these traits within these specific populations due to the wide range of variation and the influence of additive gene action. The study will help in selecting traits for further crop improvement programs.