Genetic studies in relation to yield and quality traits in rajmash

The experimental material comprised 45 F1’s generated by crossing ten diverse genotypes of rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in diallel mating design. The set of 45 cross progenies alongwith their ten parents were evaluated in randomized block design with two replications at three locations to study the gene action for yield and quality traits. The component analysis indicated preponderance of non-additive gene effects in the inheritance of all the traits studied in data pooled over environments. Net dominance effect over all loci in heterozygotes (h2) was significant and positive for all the traits indicating unidirectional dominance and asymmetrical gene distribution. The value of KD/KR was more than one (except 100-seed weight), indicating presence of excess of dominant genes in parents. Heritability was observed to be low for all the traits. The graphical analysis indicated over dominance in case of primary branches/plant, secondary branches/plant, number of pods/plant, pod length and seed yield/plant, whereas for rest of the traits, partial to complete dominance was observed. The overall ranking of genotypes revealed that genotypes ‘SKUAR-602’, ‘Shalimar Rajmash 1’, ‘SKUA-R-607’, ‘SKUA-R-608’, ‘SKUA-R-23’ and ‘SKUA-R-153’ could be useful source of elite allelic resources based on their gca and sca effects and per se performance of parents and the crosses.