INTRODUCTION Dolichos bean ( Lablab purpureus. L.) is an important vegetable legume crop grown throughout the country. India is the centre of diversity for dolichos bean, and a large numbers of indigenous strains are available in Northern India. Although this crop originated in India, very little work has been done for its genetic improvement. A great range of variation exists for plant and pod characters among the accessions grown all over the country. Planning and execution of a breeding programme for improving quantitative attributes depends, to a great extent, on the magnitude of genetic variability available. Several of the plant traits are governed by polygenes, greatly influenced by environmental conditions. There is a need to partition the overall variability into heritable and non-heritable components. Knowledge on genetic diversity, its nature, degree of variability and interrelationship between traits is useful in selecting suitable parents to initiate a J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):147-153, 2015 Variability, heritability, correlation and genetic divergence studies in dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.) T.S. Dhillon and Ajay Kumar Department of Vegetable Science Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana-141001, India E-mail: ajaykpau@gmail.com ABSTRACT Variability, heritability, correlation and genetic divergence were studied in 30 strains of dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.) for various growth and yield attributing parameters. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation was found in number of flowers per cluster, fresh green pod yield per plant, green pod yield per hectare, and mineral content. High heritability and expected genetic advance was found in number of flowers per cluster, vine length, weight of 10 green pods, fresh green pod yield per plant, and green pod yield per hectare. Genotypic correlation was higher than phenotypic correlation. Yield per plant was positively and significantly correlated with number of branches per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, weight of 10 green pods, number of clusters per plant, and number of flowers per cluster. For genetic divergence studies, the genotypes were grouped into 11 clusters on the basis of relative magnitude of D2 values. Maximum intercluster distance was recorded between Clusters VII and I, indicating a wide diversity among these two clusters. Minimum intercluster distance was observed between Clusters IX and VIII, indicating their close relationship. Thus, Clusters VII and I were generally the most divergent from the other clusters. Intra-cluster value was highest for Cluster IX. Intra-cluster distance was least for Clusters VI and X. Among the genotypes, SC-5, SC-7, SC-11, SC-16 and SC-17 were the best in traits related to yield compared to the Check, PS-2. Key words: Dolichos bean, genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, genetic divergence successful breeding programme. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to elucidate genetic variability, genetic gain, heritability and interrelationship using correlation, in a collection of strains of dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.). MATERIAL AND METHODS The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design, with three replications, at the Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Each entry comprised 20 plants, at a spacing of 1.25m from ridge-to-ridge, and 0.45m from plant-to-plant. Data were recorded on all the characters pertaining to the study. Five plants selected randomly from each treatment were selected for different agronomic traits, viz., days taken to 50% germination, days to flowering, days to first-pod set, days to first picking, number of branches per plant, number of flowers per cluster, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, number of clusters per plant, vine length 148 (cm), length of pod (cm), breadth of pod (cm), weight of 10 green pods (g), fresh green-pod yield per plant (kg), green- pod yield per hectare (q/ha), protein content (%), and dry matter content (%). Genotypic coefficient of variation was estimated as per Burton and Devance (1953). Heritability and genetic advance were calculated as per Allard (1999) and correlation was estimated as per Al-Jibouri et al (1958). All the biochemical parameters were determined as per A.O.A.C. (1970). Mahalanobis D2 statistic, as detailed by Rao (1952) was applied to assess genetic divergence between genotypes. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences among various characters under study, indicating a high degree of variability in the material (Table 1). Days- to-first-picking were minimum in SC-29, and maximum in SC-19. Number of pods per cluster was highest in PS-2 and lowest in SC-21. Highest number of pods per plant was seen in SC-11, and, the lowest in SC-24 and SC-25. Length and breadth of the pod was maximum in SC-9, while, it was minimum in SC-15. Least breadth of pod was seen in SC- 14. Fresh green-pod yield was maximum in SC-17, and minimum in SC-13. Crude protein content was maximum in SC-17, and minimum in SC-25. Highest soluble protein content was recorded in SC-30, and lowest in SC-29. Dry matter content was highest in SC-8, and the least in SC-25. Genetic variability A wide range of variation was observed for all the characters under study (Table 2). Phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 17.67 to 47.37. Highest phenotypic coefficient of variation existed for number of flowers per cluster (47.37), followed by fresh green-pod yield per plant (46.47) and green-pod yield per hectare (46.47). High- to moderate-phenotypic variability for pod yield per plant was Table 1. Mean performance of some genotypes of dolichos bean Sl. Dolichos Days Number Number Length Breadth Fresh Crude Soluble Dry Mineral no. strain to first of pods of pods of pod of pod green-pod protein protein matter content (genotype) picking per per (cm) (cm) yield per (%) (%) content (%) cluster plant plant (kg) (%) 1 SC-1 119.62 6.58 196.67 11.66 1.58 0.58 14.69 17.50 12.64 1.36 2 SC-2 103.27 6.33 151.89 8.25 2.82 1.57 17.63 15.03 19.26 0.10 3 SC-3 102.93 7.25 155.00 8.72 2.32 1.38 15.67 14.30 16.80 0.74 4 SC-4 101.93 5.00 107.67 10.67 2.94 0.75 14.95 14.10 16.28 2.00 5 SC-5 103.73 9.08 240.64 6.79 2.16 1.33 21.35 20.93 23.35 2.66 6 SC-6 110.60 6.92 231.87 8.37 1.53 0.90 18.89 21.37 18.33 0.74 7 SC-7 101.60 9.13 288.56 9.29 2.03 1.30 20.54 20.97 23.36 1.36 8 SC-8 98.60 9.10 240.22 6.86 2.36 0.80 21.37 20.47 23.77 2.34 9 SC-9 108.8 4.37 109.83 12.66 3.03 0.73 13.26 12.53 12.36 2.66 10 SC-10 92.07 7.97 333.33 7.00 1.45 1.14 12.66 14.13 12.31 2.34 11 SC-11 90.20 7.72 370.42 8.44 1.52 1.35 13.27 11.93 13.32 2.66 12 SC-12 88.73 6.87 309.53 8.25 1.50 1.06 18.03 12.27 16.40 2.00 13 SC-13 87.40 7.00 115.60 6.67 1.41 0.28 13.76 18.53 12.74 1.36 14 SC-14 86.40 5.33 238.70 7.33 1.34 0.60 12.91 19.13 12.62 0.74 15 SC-15 88.87 9.48 275.20 5.74 1.52 0.91 19.08 16.17 20.65 1.36 16 SC-16 106.80 5.23 158.50 7.58 1.82 1.30 16.14 13.00 17.50 2.00 17 SC-17 116.40 5.93 253.56 8.29 2.22 2.24 21.46 15.67 22.71 1.36 18 SC-18 132.73 5.75 136.67 6.57 1.62 0.63 14.18 21.43 16.13 0.74 19 SC-19 154.60 5.77 145.25 6.65 1.90 0.57 16.11 12.10 16.87 0.74 20 SC-20 152.60 10.63 140.00 7.13 1.84 0.70 18.90 12.00 22.81 2.34 21 SC-21 148.60 2.77 100.00 6.36 1.78 0.50 17.20 14.30 17.29 0.74 22 SC-22 144.87 4.50 166.67 7.00 1.91 0.61 16.48 15.10 16.19 0.74 23 SC-23 139.20 4.08 123.33 6.57 2.04 0.67 15.67 13.37 16.57 2.66 24 SC-24 150.00 3.00 93.33 7.09 2.23 0.43 18.76 12.00 19.35 1.36 25 SC-25 151.93 4.17 93.33 7.19 2.05 0.39 12.02 12.33 11.77 1.36 26 SC-26 143.60 7.52 146.67 10.40 2.14 0.67 13.74 12.77 14.01 2.00 27 PS-2 107.40 12.57 160.00 11.23 1.99 1.19 17.13 21.13 15.47 2.66 28 SC-28 136.27 7.17 175.00 10.06 2.06 0.96 12.75 13.03 12.48 2.66 29 SC-29 51.60 10.17 271.67 9.08 1.57 1.04 16.17 11.10 15.81 2.34 30 SC-30 111.73 5.42 223.33 11.33 1.72 1.16 14.32 23.00 12.60 2.66 CD (P=0.05) 1.54 1.12 32.17 0.52 0.14 0.18 1.19 1.40 1.27 0.69 Dhillon and Ajay Kumar J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):147-153, 2015 149 reported by Kabir and Subir (1987) and Vashi et al (1999). Phenotypic variation alone does not reveal the relative amount of variation; hence, different aspects of genetic parameters were worked out. In our experimental material, genotypic variability for characters under study ranged from 17.09 to 44.86. Maximum genotypic coefficient of variation was observed for number of flowers per cluster (46.31), followed by fresh green-pod yield per plant, and green-pod yield per hectare (44.86 each). Similar results were reported by Borah and Shadeque (1992) and Uddin and Newaz (1997). Selection is favoured when a major proportion of the large amount of phenotypic variability is a tributable to heritable variation. Burton and Devance (1953) stated that heritability alone was not enough to make efficient selection in the segregating generation, unless heritability was accompanied by a substantial amount of genetic advance. In the present investigation, number of flowers per cluster, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, vine length, weight of 10 green pods, fresh green-pod yield per plant, and green-pod yield per hectare accounted for higher heritability (99.45% to 92.42%) and higher genetic advance (93.26% to 75.38%). These results are in conformity with Singh et al (1979), Uddin and Newaz (1997) and Bendale et al (2004). Correlation It is important to study inter-relationships between various characters. As most traits of economic importance in crop plants depend upon one or the other trait, the degree of expression of one trait increases or decreases with an increase or decrease in the other character. A trait such as yield is dependent on more than one contributing traits. It is important to learn of the association between yield and its components, as, this provides valuable information on a correlated response to selection. Highly significant and positive phenotypic correlation (Table 3) was observed between pod yield per plant and six other yield-related components, viz., number of branches per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, weight of 10 green pods, number of clusters per plant and number of flowers per cluster. Also, yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated to protein content and dry matter content. Therefore, selection for yield and its positively- correlated characters, should result in a correlated response Table 2. General mean, range and components of variance for 17 characters in dolichos bean Character General Range Genotypic Phenotypic Coefficient Heritability h2 Expected Genetic mean coefficient coefficient of variation (%) genetic advance of variation of variation gain (%) Days taken to 6.63 4.33 - 9.33 17.25 20.37 10.83 71.73 2.00 30.10 50% germination Days to flowering 90.88 34.73 - 127.47 25.57 25.62 1.51 99.65 47.80 52.59 Days to first-pod set 99.02 41.20 - 133.40 22.88 22.92 1.28 99.69 46.61 47.07 Days to first picking 114.44 51.60 - 154.60 22.43 22.44 0.82 99.87 52.84 46.17 Number of branches 15.16 10.87 - 19.27 17.30 18.22 5.71 90.19 5.13 33.85 per plant Number of flowers 14.43 3.02 - 25.05 46.31 47.37 9.97 95.57 13.46 93.26 per cluster Number of pods 7.30 2.00 - 12.57 38.06 39.60 10.90 92.42 4.75 75.38 per cluster Number of pods 191.75 93.33 - 370.42 39.47 40.79 10.27 93.66 150.89 78.69 per plant Number of clusters 23.72 14.08 - 45.58 35.15 36.66 10.41 91.93 16.47 69.43 per plant Vine length (cm) 344.98 70.83 - 580.67 38.38 38.49 2.85 99.45 272.03 78.85 Length of pod (cm) 8.31 5.74 - 12.66 22.01 22.34 3.87 97.00 3.71 44.65 Breadth of pod (cm) 1.95 1.34 - 3.03 22.55 22.96 4.35 96.41 0.89 45.60 Weight of 10 green 50.66 24.59 - 103.33 39.52 40.48 8.73 95.35 40.27 79.50 pods (g) Fresh green-pod yield 0.93 0.28 - 2.24 44.86 46.47 12.13 93.19 0.83 89.20 per plant (kg) Green-pod yield (q/ha) 157.32 48.34 - 380.80 44.86 46.47 12.12 93.19 140.34 89.21 Protein content (%) 16.30 12.02 - 21.46 17.09 17.67 4.48 93.56 5.55 34.05 Dry matter content (%) 16.73 11.77 - 23.77 22.39 22.87 4.65 95.87 7.55 45.17 Variability, heritability and related studies in dolichos bean J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):147-153, 2015 150 Table 3. Phenotypic (rp) and genotypic (rg) correlation coefficient between various pairs of characters in Dolichos lablab Character Days taken Days Days to Days Number of Number Number of Number of to 50% to first-pod to first branches of flowers pods per pods per germination flowering set picking per plant per cluster cluster plant Days to rg 0.0874 flowering r p 0.0773 Days to rg 0.1340 0.9716 first-pod set r p 0.1193 0.9700** Days to rg 0.0800 0.9598 0.9929 first picking r p 0.0706 0.9579** 0.9911** Number of rg 0.0036 0.5089 0.5226 0.5329 branches r p 0.0308 0.4812** 0.4951** 0.5060** per plant Number of rg -0.2768 -0.6388 -0.6539 -0.6320 0.5571 flowers per r p -0.2210* -0.6206** -0.6354** -0.6154** 0.5048** cluster Number of rg -0.4606 -0.4139 -0.4094 -0.4057 0.3493 0.6984 pods per r p -0.3940** -0.3955** -0.3955** -0.3892** 0.3291** 0.6562** cluster Number of rg -0.3132 -0.6856 -0.6688 -0.6398 0.6900 0.6934 0.3951 pods per r p -0.2246* -0.6622** -0.6460** -0.6174** 0.6801** 0.6490** 0.3643** plant Number of rg -0.3431 0.1604 0.1380 0.1511 0.2550 -0.0178 0.2626 0.0945 clusters r p -0.2946** 0.1532 0.1321 0.1438 0.2287* -0.0019 0.2454* 0.1094 per plant Vine length rg 0.0041 0.6797 0.6974 0.6780 0.2545 -0.6486 0.2852 0.4127 (cm) r p -0.0023 0.6761** 0.6935** 0.6754** 0.2404* -0.6328** 0.2758** 0.3994** Length rg 0.1446 0.1618 0.1255 0.1474 -0.1582 0.0756 0.0855 -0.0407 of pod (cm) r p 0.1343 0.1587 0.1235 0.1440 -0.1586 0.0675 0.0839 -0.0252 Breadth of rg 0.4004 0.2292 0.2184 0.1956 -0.0241 -0.3791 -0.125 -0.4696 pod (cm) r p 0.3186** 0.2224* 0.2127* 0.1909 -0.0267 -0.3760** 0-0.1067 -0.4509** Weight of rg 0.3497 0.1634 0.1172 0.0542 0.2212 -0.1642 0.0368 -0.3042 10 green r p 0.3093** 0.1580 0.1117 0.0532 0.2118* -0.1493 0.0395 -0.2898** pods (g) Fresh rg 0.0494 -0.3415 -0.3701 -0.3978 0.7318 0.4544 0.3447 0.5210 green-pod r p 0.0740 -0.3297** -0.3590** -0.3827** 0.7156** 0.4311** 0.3296** 0.5324** yield per plant (kg) Green-pod rg 0.0496 -0.3413 -0.3699 -0.3976 0.7316 0.4543 0.3466 0.5208 yield (q/ha) r p 0.0743 -0.3295** -0.3588** -0.3825** 0.7154** 0.4310** 0.3294** 0.5323** Protein rg -0.3419 -0.0110 -0.0767 -0.0532 -0.3503 0.3604 0.3631 0.2076 content (%) r p -0.2757** -0.0056 -0.0759 -0.0511 -0.3192** 0.3382** 0.3330** 0.1953 Dry matter rg -0.2406 -0.0757 -0.0002 -0.0226 -0.2782 0.3080 0.3679 0.1323 content (%) r p -0.1784 -0.0725 -0.0013 -0.0223 -0.2500* 0.3017** 0.3350** 0.1287 Characters Number Vine Length Breadth Weight of Fresh Green-pod Protein of clusters length of pod of pod 10 green green-pod yield content per plant (cm) (cm) (cm) pods (g) yield per (q/ha) (%) plant (kg) Days to rg flowering r p Days to rg first-pod set r p Days to rg first picking r p Number of rg branches r p per plant Continued Dhillon and Ajay Kumar J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):147-153, 2015 151 Table 3. Continued... Character Number Vine Length Breadth Weight of Fresh Green-pod Protein of clusters length of pod of pod 10 green green-pod yield content per plant (cm) (cm) (cm) pods (g) yield per (q/ha) (%) plant (kg) Number of rg flowers per r p cluster Number of rg pods per r p cluster Number of rg pods per r p plant Number of rg clusters per r p plant Vine length rg 0.2425 (cm) r p 0.2349* Length of rg -0.1121 0.0620 pod (cm) r p -0.1021 0.0606 Breadth of rg 0.2702 0.2709 0.3706 pod (cm) r p 0.2625* 0.2668* 0.3585** Weight of rg -0.3444 0.1616 0.2786 0.6803 10 green r p -0.3134** 0.1580 0.2618* 0.6519** pods (g) Fresh rg 0.3070 0.1823 0.1756 0.1789 0.6233 green-pod r p 0.2622* 0.1756 0.1679 0.1632 0.6198** yield per plant (kg) Green-pod rg 0.3069 0.1821 0.1758 0.1791 0.6234 1.0000 yield (q/ha) r p 0.2622* 0.1754 0.1681 0.1633 0.6199** 1.0000** Protein rg -0.4900 -0.2698 0.2852 0.1560 0.1881 0.4091 0.4090 content (%) r p -0.4536** -0.2581* 0.2625* 0.1423 0.1772 0.3787** 0.3785** Dry matter rg -0.4097 -0.1992 0.3846 0.2307 0.2375 0.3766 0.3765 0.9600 content (%) r p -0.3905** -0.1956 0.3736** 0.2219* 0.2332* 0.3609** 0.3607** 0.9174** *Significant at 5% level of significance; **Significant at 1% level of significance for increase in yield. These positive correlations between yield and its contributing characters show simple, indirect selection criteria for developing high-yielding cultivars. Similar results were reported by Nandi et al (1997) and Uddin and Newaz (1997). Genotypic correlation between yield and other traits was slightly higher in magnitude and similar in direction to the corresponding phenotypic correlation. Other characters like vine length and length and breadth of the pod, had a positive but non-significant phenotypic correlation with pod yield. This shows that these characters cannot be treated as indices of higher pod yield. Such as association could be due to environmental factors, and cannot be used on its own. Pod yield was found to have a negative and significant correlation with days to flowering, days to first-pod set, and days to first picking. Highest amount of phenotypic variation and coefficient of variation was recorded for mineral content. Highest amount of genotypic variation was recorded in fresh green- pod yield per plant. This suggests a high variability in the material and can be exploited further in improvement programmes. Lowest amount of phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation was seen in crude protein content; the lowest amount of coefficient of variation was found in days to first picking, indicating lesser variation in the material; thus, it cannot be exploited further in improvement programmes. High- to moderate- phenotypic variability estimate was earlier reported by Joshi (1971), Biju et al (2001), Bhatt (1970), Kabir and Subir (1987), Vashi et al (1999) and Lal et al (2005). Pandey and Dubey (1972) reported a narrow range of variation in protein content There were narrow differences between phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation in all the characters studied, except mineral content, indicating a low environmental influence in expression of these characters. Variability, heritability and related studies in dolichos bean J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):147-153, 2015 152 This implies that phenotypic variability is a reliable measure of genotypic variability. Therefore selection for improvement in the trait is possible and effective on a phenotypic basis. Genetic divergence Based on D2 values, 30 genotypes of dolichos bean grouped into eleven clusters (Table 4). Constellation of the genotypes into clusters was done as per Tocher’s method (Rao, 1952). The range of D2 values obtained in the present material was 70.95 to 27774.01. The lowest end of this D2 range falls between SC-10 and SC-11, with the upper end in D2 values falling between SC-25 and SC-29. In the present study, genotypes collected from same place did not group together in the same cluster, viz., PS-2 Table 4. Clustering pattern in 30 genotypes of dolichos bean Cluster Genotype/s Frequency No. I SC-21, SC-23, SC-24, SC-25, SC-26 5 II SC-2, SC-16 2 III SC-3, PS-2, SC-28, SC-30 4 IV SC-1, SC-15 2 V SC-5, SC-7 2 VI SC-17 1 VII SC-12, SC-29 2 VIII SC-6, SC-8, SC-14 3 IX SC-4, SC-9, SC-18, SC-19, SC-20, SC-22 6 X SC-13 1 XI SC-10, SC-11 2 Table 5. Inter- and intra- cluster (underlined) average D2 and distance (√√√√√D2) values in 30 genotypes of dolichos bean Cluster I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI No. I 337.93 (18.38) II 326.05 68.98 (18.06) (8.30) III 181.08 169.99 215.02 (13.46) (13.04) (14.66) IV 359.96 165.15 236.94 110.21 (18.97) (12.85) (15.39) (10.50) V 333.81 122.72 168.24 128.96 50.72 (18.27) (11.08) (12.97) (11.36) (7.12) VI 384.64 186.23 215.50 293.51 173.72 0.00 (19.61) (13.65) (14.68) (17.13) (13.18) VII 518.90 255.61 374.78 164.28 222.42 348.47 70.34 (22.78) (15.99) (19.36) (12.82) (14.91) (18.67) (8.39) VIII 243.25 175.81 125.22 140.07 119.30 260.22 287.30 141.65 (15.60) (13.26) (11.19) (11.83) (10.92) (16.13) (16.95) (11.90) IX 188.28 169.79 124.53 183.95 192.47 297.00 341.69 119.17 382.42 (13.72) (13.03) (11.16) (13.56) (13.87) (17.23) (18.48) (10.92) (19.55) X 468.08 280.76 383.90 194.16 309.61 450.69 221.08 305.76 290.45 0.00 (21.63) (16.76) (19.59) (13.93) (17.60) (21.23) (14.87) (17.49) (17.04) XI 326.52 238.93 187.65 223.31 132.81 213.08 312.43 145.80 250.42 413.18 51.81 (18.07) (15.46) (13.70) (14.95) (11.52) (14.60) (17.68) (12.07) (15.82) (20.33) (7.20) and SC 29 (from New Delhi) grouped into Cluster III and VII, respectively. Genotype PS-2 (from New Delhi) and SC-3 and SC-28 (from Punjab) grouped in Cluster III; genotypes SC-12, SC-13, SC-14 and SC-15, were all from Bengaluru, but grouped into different clusters. Genotypes collected from Punjab were scattered from Cluster II to VII. These findings suggest that the pattern of clustering of genotypes is independent of their geographical origin. The same findings (distribution of genotypes into different groups being independent of the place of their collection/ development) were reported by Bhatt (1970), Biju et al (2001), and Lal et al (2005). This implies that genetic material from the same geographical region may provide a substantial diversity. This also indicates that forces other than eco- geographical differentiation (such as natural and human selection-pressure) can exert a considerable influence on genetic divergence. Inter- and intra- cluster average D2 values and distance (√D2 values) among 30 genotypes of dolichos bean are presented in Table 5. Maximum inter-cluster distance was recorded between Clusters VII and I (D2 value = 518.90), indicating a wide diversity between these two clusters; while, minimum inter-cluster distance (D2 value 119.17) was observed between Clusters IX and VIII, indicating their close relationship. Thus, Clusters VII and I were generally the most divergent from other clusters. Intra- Dhillon and Ajay Kumar J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 10(2):147-153, 2015 153 cluster values ranged from 382.42 (19.55) for Cluster IX, to zero for Cluster VI and X. Of the clusters comprising more than one genotype, minimum intra-cluster value of 50.72 (7.12) was recorded for Cluster V. Genotypes SC-17, SC-2, SC-3, SC-11 and SC-5 had a high pod-yield potential and other desirable economic traits, and thus, need to be tested extensively. However, a high expression of various characters was seen in different genotypes. Maximum expression for pod yield and protein content was seen in SC-17, while, that for number of branches per plant and number of pods per plant was maximum in SC-11, SC-10, SC-12, SC-7 and SC-15. Genotype SC-2 outnumbered all the others in respect of green-pod weight, while, SC-9 was rated as the best on the basis of pod length and pod breadth. Genotype SC-29 was the earliest to mature and of a bushy type, followed by SC- 12, SC-13 and SC-14; while, SC-19, SC-20 and SC-25 were late-maturing genotypes. This indicated that a high expression of all these characters in a single genotype can be achieved through hybridization and selection. Among the genotypes tested, SC-5, SC-7, SC-11, SC- 16 and SC-17 were the best in terms of traits related to yield, over the Check, PS-2. REFERENCES Al-jibouri, H.R., Miller, P.A. and Robinson, H.F. 1958. Genotypic and environment variances in upland cotton crosses of interspecific origin. Agron. J., 50:633-637 A.O.A.C. 1970. 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