Genetic Divergence in some Mutants of Mungbean (Vigna Radiata L. wilczek)

Genetic diversity in 39 mutants of mungbean were assessed using Mahalanobis D2 statistic. Study revealed existence of substantial amount of diversity in the mutants isolated from the gamma rays iriduced populations of three mungbean varieties (ML 131, ML 267 and ML 337). The mutants were grouped into eight clusters, Clusters I and VIII were the largest with eight mutants each and clusters VII was the smallest with two mutants. Except cluster III mutants all other clusters mutants were derived from two or three varieties. All the three mutants grouped in cluster III were isolated from a single variety ML 337. Plant height, pods/plant, seeds/pod, biological yield/plant, grain yield/plant and harvest index contributed considerably accounting for 99.92% of the total divergence.