Trade-offs and Synergies: Understanding the relationship between Traits in Moth Bean Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the agriculture farm of RNB Global University in Bikaner, Rajasthan, to assess the correlation and path coefficients among 30 different genotypes of moth bean. The study encompassed eight distinct traits: days to reach 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), the number of branches per plant, pod length (cm), seed index (g), the number of seeds per pod and grain yield per plant (g). The research was carried out using a randomized block design, with rows spaced at 30 cm intervals and individual plants set 15 cm apart. The analysis of variance showed significant variations among all genotypes for all the traits under investigation. Correlation studies unveiled that grain yield exhibited positive and significant correlations at both phenotypic and genotypic levels with plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, and pod length (cm). Among these traits, the highest direct positive effects on grain yield were associated with the number of seeds per pod, days to 50% flowering, pod length (cm) and plant height (cm). These findings provide valuable insights into the relationships and influential factors contributing to grain yield in moth bean genotypes, facilitating future crop improvement efforts.