The contribution of agronomic traits in the mung bean accessions diversity

In order to evaluation the genetic diversity of agronomical traits, determine the relationships between traits and the contribution of each trait in the diversity, a study was conducted on 49 mung bean accession’s in the field of the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran, in the 2019-20 growing season and the most important phenological and agronomical traits were recorded. Based on the results, grain yield, biomass, plant weight, number and weight of grains and pods per plant and number of cluster per plant had the highest coefficient of variation. The results of the factor analysis showed that plant weight, number and weight of grains and pods per plant and number of cluster per plant had the highest coefficients in the first component; Grain yield and harvest index had the highest coefficients in the second component and pod length and 100 grain weights had the highest coefficients in the third component. Cluster analysis using Ward’s method divided accessions into 3 distinct clusters.  Discriminant analysis showed that grain yield, biomass, harvest index and pods number per plant had maximum coefficient in the first function, which has the most effective role (75%) to discriminant clusters. Based on the Wilk’s Lambda values, except grains per pod, pod length and hundred grains weight, other traits had significant effect on dividing accessions into 3 clusters. High GCV, PCV, coupled with medium to high heritability of plant weight, number of grains and pods per plant, pods and grains weight per plant, cluster number per plant, 100 grain weights and harvest index, indicating that selection will be effective for these traits. Path analysis demonstrated the direct effects of biomass, harvest index and pod weight per plant on mung bean grain yield.  These results clearly elucidate that these traits had more diversity among mung bean accessions. The existence of such diversity makes possible the selection of appropriate accessions based on breeder’s desire.