Morphological Variability and Molecular Diversity in Blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) Genotypes Using SSR Markers

A study on the Morphological variability of 25 Blackgram genotypes was carried out in which molecular diversity of 15 genotypes of Blackgram was studied by using 8 SSR markers. The GCV was lower than PCV for all traits, however, there was narrow difference in PCV and GCV, indicating the effect of environment in lesser frequency. The high seed yield was recorded in the genotypes PLU-429(8.06gm) followed by PL-416(7.37gm) and VBN-8(7.29gm). Among all the factors PC 1 to PC 8, the PC 1 (40.610) accounted maximum proportion of variability in the set of all variables. Association studies revealed that there was high and significant positive amount of genotypic as well as phenotypic correlation coefficient for traits viz., primary branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, harvest index. Path analysis revealed high positive direct effect was contributed by primary branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant, harvest index both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. The Polymorphism information content PIC values of 8 SSR markers valued from 31 percent to 71 percent with mean of 51 percent. BG 18 exhibited highest PIC 71 percent and highest heterozygosity of 62 percent. As per Dissimilarity coefficient, 15 genotypes are grouped into five clusters, Cluster II & V has highest 4 genotypes while in compare with Cluster I, III & IV. SSR marker BG18 has highest number of alleles 5. Shannon’s information index(I) ranged from 1.465 for BG18 to 0.611 for BG07. Fixation index is ranged from 1.000 to -0.111 with mean 0.696. SSRs with high polymorphism information content successfully assisted in the differentiation of genotypes in this study.