Abstract

Blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) is an important pulse crop, which is widely cultivated and consumed in India. Qualitative characters are important for plant description. In the present regime of Intellectual Property Rights, the distinctness of a candidate variety from all other varieties is an important criterion for granting protection of Plant Breeders Rights. Keeping this in view, forty six genotypes of blackgram were evaluated to determine the extent of genetic variation for sixteen morphological traits. A good level of variability was observed for terminal leaflet shape, petiole colour, pod pubescence and seed colour and a considerable level of variability was observed for growth habit, stem colour, leaf pubescence, leaf colour, leafiness and calyx colour. For corolla colour and luster on seed surface, no variability was observed. For the other traits viz., immature pod colour, colour of ventral suture immature pod, pod beak shape and twining tendency, low level of variability was observed. Morphological traits are related to biotic and abiotic stresses. Prostrate plant type is preferred for planting under rainfed conditions as it facilitates moisture conservation. Plant with lanceolate leaf shape in most cases is drought tolerant; hence, these characters may be utilized for breeding blackgram for rainfed conditions. A good level of variability was observed among the accession of Vigna mungo var. silvestris for various morphological traits, which could be used in crossing programme to improve blackgram.

Keywords: Blackgram, Qualitative traits, Descriptors, Genetic characterization