J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2016: Vol.

30 (1):21-24
(21) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

VARIABILITY AND HERITABILITY STUDIES IN WINGED BEAN (PSOPHOCARPUS

TETRAGONOLOBUS (L.) DC.) FOR SEED YIELD AND COMPONENT CHARACTERS
K. Prasanth*, I. Sreelathakumary and V.A. Celine
Department of Olericulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani 695 522, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. India
[Corresponding author E-mail* : kpras.agri@gmail.com]

Received: 22-12-2015 Accepted: 17-01-2016

In the present study, twenty one diverse genotypes of winged bean from different sources were evaluated for assessing various
genetic parameters in different seed characters under Kerala conditions. The analysis of variance showed significant difference
among all the genotypes for seed yield and its component characters studied. Medium to high values of PCV and GCV were
observed for pods per plant followed by seeds per pod and hundred seed weight. The GCV was very near to PCV for most of the
characters, indicating a highly significant effect of genotype on phenotypic expression, with very little effect of environment
indicating ample scope for selection of genotypes from available germplasm for these traits. The traits Viz., shelling percentage,
seeds per pod, pods per plant exhibited high heritability coupled with high to moderate genetic advance as percent mean indicates
the presence of flexible additive gene effects, which may be improved through simple plant selection methods. Correlation studies
indicated significant positive associations of Pods per plant with shelling percentage and seeds per pod at genotypic and phenotypic
levels respectively. Furthermore, based on the genetic parameters and per se performance, the suitable genotypes for these traits
could be isolated and utilized for various winged bean improvement programmes.

Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. (Fam. Fabaceae) The entire success of plant breeding programme of any crop
popularly known as Winged bean or Goa bean is a tropical largely depends on the wide range of variability present in that
legume vegetable found growing abundantly in hot, humid crop. It is the range of genetic variability in respect of important
equatorial countries, like India.It has high protein content in economic characters present in the population upon which is
the seeds and therefore considered as a versatile legume1. In based on the effectiveness of selection.
India, this crop is mainly confined to southern and eastern
Indirect selection in such a situation is more effective and
parts of India and can be consumed by incorporating in a variety
study of correlation among different economic traits are
of cuisines. It is a diploid (2n = 2x = 18), self-fertilizing
therefore, essential for an effective selection programme
leguminous crop with multifarious usage2. It can be grown as
because selection for one or more trait results in correlated
a grain legume, green vegetable, tuber crop or a forage and
response for several other traits and sequence of variation will
cover-crop3. As all the parts i.e., tubers, leaves, flowers, tender
also be influenced6-7. Hence, the knowledge of genotypic and
green pods and seeds, are edible, palatable and nutritious,
phenotypic correlation between yield and its contributing
concerted efforts are needed to improve this protein rich legume
characters is very essential.
as a potential vegetable. As preliminary studies in winged bean
are very meager, there is an urgent need to identify and develop MATERIAL AND METHODS
suitable genotypes for specific purposes. Knowledge of genetic
The present investigation was carried out in the experimental
diversity within and among genotypes of any crop is fundamental
area of Department of Olericulture, College of Agriculture,
to estimate the potential of genetic gain in breeding programs
Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Geographically, the
and for effective conservation and sustainable utilization of
experimental site is located at 8o 5' N latitude and 77o 1' E
available genetic resources4-5. Therefore, in the present
longitude at an altitude of 29 m above mean sea level.
investigation, an attempt was made to estimate the extent of
Predominant soil type of the experimental site is red loam
variability, heritability and genetic advance and degree of
belonging to Vellayani series, texturally classified as sandy
association among various characters in 21 winged bean
clay loam with a pH of 5.2 and the area enjoys a warm humid
genotypes.
NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20
 VARIABILITY AND HERITABILITY STUDIES IN WINGED BEAN
tropical climate. The experimental materials comprised of 21
genotypes from different sources (Table-1). The experiment
was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three
replications, during April 2013 to March 2014. The experimental
field was divided into three blocks of equal size and each block
possesses 21 plots, where the genotypes were randomly
assigned. Seeds of each genotype were sown in rows at
spacing of 125 cm between rows and 50 cm between plants.
Proper cultural and management practices were followed as
per package of practices recommendations of Kerala
Agricultural University8. Five plants were selected at random
from each experimental plot for recording observations on seed
yield and component characters. The data on various
characters studied during the course of investigation were
statistically analyzed as per the procedure9. The genotypic
and phenotypic coefficients of variation were also computed 10.
The broad sense heritability, genetic gain and genetic advance
over mean and correlation co-efficient among all possible
combination at phenotypic and genotypic levels were also
computed11-14.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The analysis of variance revealed that genotypes under study
differed significantly for all the characters studied (Table-2)
viz., pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight,
shelling percentage and duration of crop. The general
performance of each genotypes for different characters studied
is presented in Tables-3. A wide range of variability was
recorded for several characters. Pods per plant varied from
44.98 to154.49 having general mean 86.58 which revealed that
majority of genotypes were having the medium to high number
of pods per plant. Seeds per pod ranged from 6.94 to15.07
and most of genotypes were having twelve grains per pod as
evident from the general mean, 100 seed weight varied from
20.39 g to 43.81 g having general mean 32.36 g suggesting
most of genotypes were significantly superior. Among the
genotypes, maximum number of pods and pod yield per plant
were obtained from PT 21 followed by PT 4. PT 11 recorded
highest shelling percentage (58.17) followed by PT 6 and PT
4. Several authors have recorded similar patterns in winged
bean15-16. This indicated that there is scope of effective selection
and can be used for further crop improvement programme.
The magnitude of variability present in a population is of utmost
(22)
importance as it provides the basis for effective selection. Since
the observed variability in a population is the sum of variation
arising due to the genotypic and environmental effects,
knowledge on the nature and magnitude of genetic variation
contributing to gain under selection is essential. PCV and
GCV are the components used to measure the variability
present in a population.
The characters, viz., pods per plant recorded high estimates
of genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, indicating
ample scope of selection of genotypes from germplasm (Table-
4). For all the characters phenotypic coefficient of variation
(PCV) was slightly higher than the genotypic coefficient of
variation (GCV), so it is evident that in expression of the
characters mainly governed by the genotypes itself along with
meager effect of environment. So the selection can be effective
based on the phenotypic values. Several earlier authors were
also reported such a closer PCV and GCV for different
characters in winged bean17-19. Low estimates of genotypic
and phenotypic coefficients of variation were recorded for traits
like number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and shelling
percentage. These results are in line with earlier workers17 - 20
in winged bean suggesting that genotypes had low variability
for these characters.
Heritability provides information on the degree of inheritance
of characters from the parents to the progeny. Characters
possessing high heritability can be improved directly through
selection as they are less affected by environment 13. High
heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advance was
observed for seeds per pod indicating the preponderance of
additive and fixable genetic variance (Table-4); suggesting that
this trait may be subjected to any selection scheme to develop
the stable genotypes and selection pressure may be exercised
in early generation. High heritability coupled with moderate to
low genetic advance for 100 seed weight and shelling
percentage respectively indicating the presence of additive as
well as non-additive gene action. For these traits improvement
can be made opting the two to three cycles of recurrent
selection followed by pedigree or single seed descent methods
of breeding. These results are corroborated by the previous
workers17-20.
The genotypic and phenotypic correlation studies were carried
out for all the characters to establish the nature of relationship
(23) PRASANTH, SREELATHAKUMARY AND CELINE

Table-1. Source and place of collection of winged bean genotypes used in the study.

Table-2. Analysis of variance for seed characters in winged bean (Mean squares are given).

** significant at 1% level
Table-3. Mean performance of 21 winged bean genotypes for vegetative and flowering characters.

existing between yield and its component characters (Table-
5). Pods per plant were significantly and positively correlated
with shelling percentage and seeds per pod. Significant negative
correlation was observed between 100 seed weight and crop
duration. Pods per plant is positively and significantly
associated with other traits, selection for any one of these
traits would be rewarding in simultaneous improvement in other
traits.Most of these traits are highly heritable as evidenced by
higher values for broad sense heritability (h2) coupled with
high percent of genetic advance as percent mean (GAM), it is
clear that the characters viz., pods per plant, seeds per pod,
 VARIABILITY AND HERITABILITY STUDIES IN WINGED BEAN (24)

Table-4. Estimation of genetic parameters for various characters in winged bean.

GV: genotypic variation, PV: phenotypic variation, GCV: genotypic coefficient of variation; PCV: phenotypic coefficient
of variation; h2: heritability, GA: genetic advance
Table-5. Genotypic (above diagonal) Phenotypic (below diagonal) correlation coefficients of different
characters in winged bean.

* Significant at 5% level ** significant at 1% level

and shelling percentage offer good scope for selection in winged University, Thrissur.
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Genetics.Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.
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