↵Genetic Diversity and Principal Component Analysis in Mungbean [vigna Radiata (L.) Wilczek] under Rainfed Condition

Background: Mungbean is a short duration grain legume widely grown in south and Southeast Asia. The extent of variability through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis in promising mungbean genotypes should be known for possible yield improvement. A study was undertaken to work out the extent of variability among twenty four mungbean genotypes through cluster analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA).Methods: The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications during kharif 2018 and 2019 at the experimental field of Agricultural Research Station, Navgaon (Alwar) under rainfed condition. Result: Principal component analysis revealed that the first three main PCAs amounted 78.80% of the total variation among genotypes for different traits. Out of total principal components, PC1 accounts for maximum variability in the data with respect to succeeding components. Number of branches per plant (28.62%), number of clusters per plant (23.55%) and seed yield (15.58%) showed maximum per cent contribution towards total genetic divergence on pooled basis. Cluster analysis showed that genotypes fall into seven different clusters and their inter and intra cluster distance showed genetic diversity between different genotypes. The maximum number of genotypes i.e., 8 was found in cluster II followed by cluster III comprising of 6 genotypes. Genotypes RMG-1138 and IPM-02-03 representing the mono genotypic cluster signifies that it can be the most diverse variety and it would be the appropriate genotype for hybridization with ones present in other clusters to tailor the agriculturally important traits and ultimately to boost the seed yield in mungbean under rainfed conditions.