Identification and characterization of sources for photo‐ and thermo‐insensitivity in Vigna species

Abstract

Cultivation of the same varieties of mungbean and blackgram across different seasons and locations is constrained by their photo-and thermosensitive behaviour. Developing insensitive genotypes, which can fit well across all seasons, requires robust donors which would provide genes imparting this trait. This study was undertaken to identify such donors in the Vigna species. Forty-eight accessions belonging to 13 Vigna species and eight released cultivars were evaluated under natural field conditions. Among these, two accessions, viz. V. umbellata (IC251442) and V. glabrescens (IC251372) were found photo-and thermo-insensitive as these were able to flower and set pods at temperatures as high as 43.9°C and as low as 2.7°C. Pollen viability studies indicated viable pollen (>75% at 2.7°C and >85% at 41.9°C) and normal pollen tube growth at both the extremes of temperature. The identified V. glabrescens accession has long, constricted pods and dark green, mottled seeds while V. umbellata has smooth, curved pods and shining, oval, large seeds. Both these accessions can be utilized in developing photo-thermo insensitive genotypes in cultivated Vigna species.Key words: photo -thermo insensitivity -V. umbellata -V. glabrescens -wild VignaThe genus Vigna comprises more than 200 immensely variable species. Many of these are agronomically important and depict considerable economic and environmental importance. Amongare cultivated and consumed mostly in south and Southeast Asia and Africa. Many of the above species beside their high protein grains are valued as forage, green manure and cover crops. Mungbean and blackgram are the most popular and economically important crops of the Vigna group. India is the largest producer of these crops in the world and accounts for 65% of acreage and 54% of global production (Pratap et al. 2012). Keeping in view their short crop cycle, low input requirements and ability to survive in a wide range of adverse soil and climatic conditions, there is an ample scope of growing these crops across the seasons (spring, summer, winter and rainy seasons) in different parts of the country as a sole, relay or intercrop (Pratap et al. 2013). There is also a large scope of their further horizontal expansion in large areas, particularly in the rice fallows in peninsular India and in summer cultivation after the harvest of wheat, potato and rapeseed-mustard in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh. However, the biggest hindrance in horizontal expansion of blackgram and mungbean in India is their photo-and thermo-sensitive nature which necessitates breeding of an array of genotypes for different agro-climatic zones of the country. Most of the varieties of mungbean and blackgram which have been bred till date are suitable only for a particular agro-climatic zone and cropping season. Nevertheless, most of the farmers usually recycle their seeds year after year and also across different seasons being unaware about the suitability of a particular variety in a specific season. In most of the...

Determination of promising high yielded mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) genotypes under Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey

“…It can be successfully cultivated even in the hot summer with dry environment (Sekhon, 2008). Mungbean has two planting windows due to integration of photo insensitive traits from wild genotypes (Pratap et al, 2014). Its short growth period allows adaptation in many cropping systems and easily adjusted in crop rotations, hence, diversifying cropping systems (Shanmugasundaram et al, 2009).…”

Cross‐genera amplification of informative microsatellite markers from common bean and scarlet runner bean for assessment of genetic diversity in mungbean (Vigna radiata)

“…It has a short crop cycle, low input requirements and ability to survive in a wide range of adverse soil and climatic conditions and therefore can be grown across different climates (spring, summer, winter and rainy seasons) in different parts of the subcontinent as a sole, relay, or intercrop (Pratap et al. ,b). Summer cultivation of mungbean is a rewarding experience which is becoming increasingly popular among Asian farmers.…”

Field characterization of endemic wild Vigna accessions collected from biodiversity hotspots of India to identify promising genotypes for multiple agronomic and adaptive traits

“…Therefore, these accessions hold great promise to be utilized as donors for developing early maturing genotypes in mungbean and urdbean. Shortduration mungbean can avoid the adverse effects of terminal heat stress during summer season and adverse effect of untimely rains at harvest time during rainy season (Pratap et al, 2014) and therefore can be tremendously useful in expanding mungbean area in northern and central part of India during summer season (Pratap et al, 2013). Number of seeds/pod is another trait which is targeted directly by a breeder.…”

“…Vigna is a large and highly variable genus comprising more than 200 species (Pratap et al, 2014). Many of these species are commercially important and are mostly grown in the warm temperate and tropical regions of the world.…”