Journal of Environmental Biology

Genetic variability and nutrient–yield associations in horse gram based on agro-morphological and nutritional traits

J. Yashaswini¹, A. Pandey², S.K. Bishi³, K.U. Tribhuvan⁴, S.K. Lal⁵, V.P. Bhadana^², P.G. Gore⁶, D.S. Gupta⁷ and S. Kumar²*     

¹Division of Genetics, ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Ranchi Hub at ICAR–Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Ranchi – 834 003, India

²School of Genomics and Molecular Breeding, ICAR–Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Ranchi–834 003,  India

³School of Basic and Social Sciences, ICAR–Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Ranchi–834 003, India

⁴School of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, ICAR–Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Ranchi–834 003, India

⁵School of Genome Engineering, ICAR–Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB), Ranchi–834 003, India

⁶Division of Germplasm Conservation, ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi–110 012, India

⁷Division of Crop Improvement, ICAR–Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur–208 024, India

Received: 04 September 2025                   Revised: 11 January 2026                   Accepted: 16 April 2026

*Corresponding Author Email: sudhiraaidu2006@gmail.com                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9077-7152

Abstract

Aim: Assessment of genetic variation for 16 agro-morphological and 12 nutritional traits along with their interrelationships, among 36 horse gram accessions to identify promising genotypes for the horse gram breeding programme.

Methodology: All data gathered from 16 agro-morphological and 12 nutritional traits of the experiment were analysed to assess the genetic parameters of variability, inter-relationship and genetic divergence among 36 horse gram accessions.

Results: Significant genetic variation (p < 0.01) was observed among 36 horse gram accessions. Seed yield varied from 4.22 to 12.21 g per plant, primary branches ranged from 5.11 to 9.89, and protein content reached up to 26.2%. Heritability was maximum for tannin (92.3%) followed by nitrogen (88.5%), sulphur (85.6%), whereas genetic advance was highest for pod clusters (85.8%). Seed yield per plant had analysed for positive association with primary branches (r = 0.78), pod clusters (r = 0.72), secondary branches (r = 0.65), SPAD (r = 0.61), 100-seed weight (r = 0.69), and carbohydrate content (r = 0.58), and negatively with starch content (r = –0.43). Path analysis revealed primary branches (direct effect = 0.501) as the main contributor. The three foremost principal components together explained 86.66%of variance, with secondary branches, pod maturity, and pod clusters contributing most. Clusters VI and VII showed the maximum inter-cluster distance, and most appropriate for divergent parent selection.

Interpretation: The availability of ample genetic variability and additive gene action together contribute towards genetic improvement of horse gram. Selection should prioritize primary branches, pod-bearing clusters, seed weight, and key nutritional traits utilizing divergent parents.

Key words: Agro-morphological traits, Genetic diversity, Horse gram accessions, Macrotyloma uniflorum, Nutritional traits

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