STUDY OF PHENOTYPIC VARIATION FOR YIELD AND YIELD CONTRIBUTING TRAITS IN COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L) FROM NORTH-WESTERN HIMALAYAS

Ninety six genotypes (42 exotic and 54 indigenous) of Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were investigated at two locations during Rabi 2016 (SKUAST-Jammu) and Kharif 2017 (SKUAST-Bhaderwah) to evaluate yield contributing traits for phenotypic variation and identify the selection indices important for common bean improvement. Seeds per pod have least variation among coefficients at phenotypic and genotypic level and yield per plant have highest PCV and GCV across both locations. High estimate of heritability (broad sense) was observed for 100 seed weight and signifying high potential for improvement of common bean through selection which is governed by additive gene action. Correlation coefficients at phenotypic level of both locations envisaged that yield per plant was having significant and positive correlation with pods per plant, seeds per pod and 100 seed weight. These are the important characters contributing towards crop yield and can be strategically used to improve the common bean yield