Abstract:
A research programme was carried out at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during January-April 1995 with the objective of assessing yield potential and adaptability of black gram genotypes in summer rice fallows. Thirty varieties were evaluated adopting a randomised complete block design with three replications. Data on twenty one characters were collected and subjected to statistical analysis. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference among the varieties for all the characters except number of pickings. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were highest for incidence of rust disease, leaf area index, biological yield, seed yield per plant and height of plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for leaf area index, height of plant, number of pods per plant and stomatal distribution suggesting the reliability of these characters during selection progrmme. High positive genotypic correlation of pod weight, number of pods per plant and number of pod clusters per plant with grain yield has indicated that selection based on the above components result in the improvement of grain yield. Selection index based on yield contributing characters has enabled to select six high yielding adaptable black gram genotypes viz. Co-Bg-309, Co-Bg-9, B-3-8-8-1, WBG-67, Co-Bg-303 and T-9.
