Multivariate analysis for study of genetic divergence in mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] genotypes

Forty mungbean genotypes were evaluated for fourteen quantitative traits, planted in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Mahalanobis' generalised distance D2 was used to assess the character data and Principal Component Analysis for estimating genetic diversity and identification of superior mungbean genotypes. Following Tocher's technique, the 40 genotypes were divided into 7 clusters in accordance with their genetic distance. Among them four clusters were polygenotypic and three were monogenotypic. The genotypes of cluster IV and VII showed highest (40.51) inter cluster distance followed by cluster III and VII (39.04). Cluster V has been discovered to have the largest intra-cluster distance. In order to increase the genetic diversity of Vigna radiata, genotypes from these clusters may be crossed. Based on Principal Component Analysis results, 5 PCs explained 75.87% of the variation among the 14 parameters and had eigen values greater than unit. Only six genotypes—TJM-37, TJM-134, TJM-140, TJM-235, Shikha, and PM-1632—contained with favourable yield and quality associated PCs, and had outstanding remark for yield traits—out of all genotypes contributing their existence in more than one PC with high PC score. These lines may be used in hybridization programmes to transmit desirable features, such as high yield and high quality, to recipient mungbean genotypes, resulting in the creation of promising cultivars