Exploring the yield and yield contributing traits variability in dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus): A character association and path analysis approach

An experiment was conducted during 2019–20 and 2020–21 at ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh to evaluate the magnitude of variability in dolichos bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] genotypes for important horticultural traits and their associations. The observed range and mean variations of the studied traits revealed a significant genetic diversity among the genotypes. The narrow gap in the genotypic (GCV) and the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for delineated characters indicated that they are governed by genetic factors, and environmental factors had little or no impact on the phenotypic expression of these traits. The traits including pod yield, days taken to first flowering, weight of pod, plant height, and pod width, showed positive GCV, indicating the presence of additive genes action. Traits such as pod weight, days taken to first flowering, and pod width displayed high heritability and moderate genetic advance, suggesting that the high heritability of these traits is due to the effects of additive genes and that genetic gain can be expected through the phenotypic selection. The higher genotypic correlations revealed an inherent association between the traits. Therefore, the selection criterion for high yield was proposed based on the strong character association between plant height, number of pods/cluster, pod width, and pod weight. The number of pods/plant, followed by the number of clusters/plant had the highest direct positive effect on yield. Consequently, pod yield may be increased through selection of heavier pods, more clusters/ plant, and more pods/cluster.