ESTIMATION OF VARIABILITY, HERITABILITY AND GENETIC ADVANCE IN MUTANT POPULATIONS OF BLACK GRAM (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)

Genetic variability and heritability estimates with genetic advance of traits are essential for crop improvement. In this investigation, variability induced by gamma rays and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) for different quantitative traits including plant height (cm), flowering time (days), number of primary branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, pod length (cm), 100 seed weight (g) and seed yield per plant (g) was studied in M-2 generation of black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper). Seeds of VBN 4 black gram were treated with various doses/concentrations of gamma rays (40, 50 and 60 kR) and EMS (50, 60 and 70 mM). Mean performance of different quantitative traits was significantly better in 50 mM of EMS followed by 50 kR of gamma rays when compared with the control and other doses. Generally, higher doses of gamma rays and EMS (60 kR and 70 mM) that were particularly decreased had a pronounced effect on the plant growth and yield of black gram. High values of heritability and genetic advance indicate the possibility of inducing desirable mutations for polygenic traits accompanied by effective selection in M-2 and later generations.