Genetic analysis of root traits in response to phosphorous uptake under deficient and sufficient conditions in Vigna and Phaseolus species

Fourteen morphological traits were used to identify superior genotypes among eight Vigna and one Phaseolus species based on normal and deficient Phosphorous conditions on vermiculite with 2 replications. The species included nine blackgram and mungbean genotypes each, three wild relatives of blackgram and one mungbean, three genotypes of ricebean and five genotypes of cowpea and one genotype of frenchbean. In the present study, the analysis of variance for different traits indicated that sufficient variation was present among the genotypes as revealed from significant estimates of mean squares for different characters. In general, the value of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was higher than the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and environmental coefficient of variation (ECV). Root dry weight at 45DAS (126.96%), exhibited highest phenotypic coefficient of variation, followed by root dry weight at maturity (126.81%) and Total P uptake at maturity (68.79%), Root dry weight at 45 DAS (126.64%) also showed highest genotypic coefficient of variation, Similarly, the highest environmental coefficient of variation 46.50% was observed for root volume (for 100% P). Highest phenotypic coefficient of variation was recorded for Total P uptake at maturity (78.50%). Shoot dry weight at 45 DAS (76.70%) exhibited highest genotypic coefficient of variation and shoot P uptake exhibited highest environmental coefficient of variation for 50% P. Root dry weight at 45 DAS (99%), root dry weight at maturity (99%), seed yield per plant (99%) and total P uptake at maturity (99%) exhibited high heritability for 100% and plant height, shoot dry weight at 45 DAS exhibited 100% heritability for 50% phosphorous conditions.