Greater knowledge of the magnitude of genetic variability for quantitative and quality characters in winter bean and relationships among these would facilitate the breeding improvement of this underutilized legume vegetable. Accordingly, a set of 24 genotypes/landraces was grown in a replicated experiment to assess genetic variation for pod yield and its component traits, ascorbic acid and protein content and quantify relationships among those traits. Significant differences among genotypes showed sufficient variability for the twelve traits studied that could be exploited in breeding. The differences in genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation (GCV and PCV) were negligible for days to 50% flowering, plant height, pod length, pod yield per plant, ascorbic acid and protein content, indicating little influence of environment on these characters. High heritability along with high genetic advance in case of pod yield per plant (H-bs(2) 97%; GA=126%) and node per plant (85%, 54%) indicated predominance of additive gene action in these traits. Non-additive gene action, however, appears to govern other parameters. Genotypic correlations among all the traits were higher than corresponding phenotypic correlations, indicating inherent associations among the traits. The highest positive phenotypic and genotypic correlations were between nodes per plant and pod bearing nodes per plant (rp=92*; rg=99) followed by pod yield per plant and nodes per plant (rp=86*; rg=93). Path coefficient analysis revealed that nodes per plant had the highest positive direct effect on pod yield per plant at phenotypic level (0.391) followed by branches per plant (0.108). However, at genotypic level, branches per plant had highest positive direct effect on pod yield per plant (3.286) followed by nodes per plant (2.811). Adequate genetic variability was present within the genotypes studied to allow breeding improvement of quantitative as well as quality traits. Selection for nodes and branches per plant would be the most effective means of indirectly increasing the pod yield in winter bean.
