Variability, Character Association and Genetic Divergence in Mungbean

Mungbean is cost-effectively most important crop of the pulse group and is widely cultivated in India. It is an essential dietary component in India. It is the cheapest source of protein (20-27%) and providing nutritional security to vegetarians. It bears traces of anti-nutritional factors without any health hazards, compared to other legumes. Mungbean is essentially a self-pollinated crop. High protein, easy digestibility and low flatulence production made the crop more acceptable by the people the world over. It is a short day, warm-season crop, grown mainly in arid and semi-arid regions. Because of short duration, wide adaptation, low water requirement and photo insensitiveness, it can be grown in various crop rotation practices. India is the largest producer of mungbean in the world, mainly grown in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.