MSc

Rice bean is an underutilized fodder legume, belonging to family Fabaceae, having chromosome number 2n=22. It is emerging as a potential nutritious high yielding animal fodder with no major pest and disease incidence and demands no fertilizer and little special care during growth. In India and Nepal it is mainly grown in two seasons February and March for harvest during summer and in July and August for harvest during December. It can be grown as sole crop or inter crop with maize and sorghum.
The present investigation „Genetic analysis in fodder rice bean (Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) for yield and quality‟ was conducted at Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. 30 genotypes of rice bean collected from NBPGR were evaluated in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The crop was harvested at 50% flowering stage. Observations were recorded for various qualitative and quantitative characters, viz. days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf fresh weight, stem fresh weight, green fodder yield, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, dry fodder yield, leaf area index, leaf stem ratio, production efficiency, crude protein, crude fiber and dry matter production. Various statistical tools such as analysis of variance, genotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability, genetic advance, correlation studies, path analysis and cluster analysis were carried out to find out extent of variation present in existing genotypes. Analysis of variance was found to be significant for all the characters except for the character days to 50% flowering. This reveals the presence of variability among the genotypes and hence selection can be effective in the population.
The genotype IC341991 recorded maximum leaf fresh weight (17.41 t ha-1), stem fresh weight (21.87 t ha-1), green fodder yield (35.49 t ha-1), leaf dry weight (2.5 t ha-1), stem dry weight (3.82 t ha-1) and dry fodder yield (6.46 t ha-1), which was on par with the genotypes IC341986 and IC521350. Minimum green fodder yield was recorded by the genotypes EC98452 (22.32 t ha-1) IC341998 (23.25 t ha-1) EC16136 (24.12 t ha-1). Maximum Crude protein content was recorded for the genotypes IC521119 (21.0%), IC521152 (20.27%) and IC521115 (19.74%) while minimum
crude protein content was reported for the genotype IC18553 (13.30%). Crude fibre content was found to be high for the genotype IC469192 (6.7%) and lowest crude fibre content was recorded for the genotype EC98452 (2.8%).
The parameters of genetic variability such as genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV). Heritability (H2) and Genetic Advance (GA) were carried out to find genetic variability present in the genotypes. All PCV values were highest then the GCV values, indicating least influence of environment on the expression of characters. Maximum PCV and GCV were observed for the characters crude fibre and dry fodder yield. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was reported for the characters dry matter production, crude fibre, leaf area index, crude protein and dry fodder yield. High heritability and genetic advance indicates presence of additive gene action and hence selection of these characters will be rewarding.
Correlation studies gives information about degree and magnitude of relationship between two or more variables. Green fodder yield showed significant positive correlation with number of leaves, stem fresh weight, production efficiency, stem dry weight, leaf area index, dry fodder yield, leaf fresh weight, dry matter production, number of branches, plant height, leaf dry weight, crude fibre and leaf stem ratio. Path analysis is a multiple regression statistical analysis which partitions the correlation coefficients into measures of direct and indirect effect. path analysis revealed that characters production efficiency, leaf dry weight, plant height, number of leaves, crude protein, leaf fresh weight, leaf stem ratio and number branches showed direct positive effect on green fodder yield.
Cluster analysis was carried out to know the extent of genetic diversity present in the population. Based on D2 statistics 30 genotypes of rice bean were grouped into 5 clusters following Tocher‟s method luster I being the largest cluster contains 12 genotypes followed by cluster III (10 genotypes), cluster IV (4 genotypes), cluster III (3 genotypes) and cluster V (1 genotype). Highest intra cluster distance was observed in the genotypes falling under the cluster III followed by IV and II. Maximum inter cluster distance was observed in the genotypes falling under the cluster III and V,
followed by II and III and I and V. Genotypes should be selected from the clusters which shows highest divergence for the success of breeding program.
The study revealed presence of ample amount of variability among the genotypes for all the characters studied. The genotype IC341991was found to be superior in terms of yield and yield attributing characters followed by genotypes IC341986, IC521350 and IC521134. These superior genotypes can be forwarded for further trials for variety development or can be used as parents for future breeding work.