Agronomic Traits and Total Seed Protein in Black Gram Vigna Mungo (l.) Hepper

This study evaluated agronomic traits of 111 genotypes of black gram Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper, mainly from Pakistan, to determine the extent of genetic diversity. Seed proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. High genetic variance was observed for days to flowering, days to maturity, number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant, biomass/plant, grain yield/plant and harvest index, whereas low genetic variance was observed for pod length, seeds/pod and 100-seed weight in both years studied. SDS-PAGE of seed proteins showed low inter-accession diversity and no clear differentiation on the basis of origin or source. The genotypes in one cluster with similar agronomic characters did not necessarily belong to the same origin or source. The lack of a geographic pattern of germplasm collected from Pakistan was probably due to exchange of germplasm between neighbouring regions, or because germplasm represented progenies of the same ancestors. Clustering of advanced breeding lines along with an approved variety in one group revealed that only a portion of the genetic diversity has been exploited for improvement of black gram. It is suggested that the genetic base of cultivated black gram should be broadened by involving diverse parents in the breeding programme. Expansion of the genetic base for black gram breeding might be accomplished by systematic use of germplasm that differs in protein profiles and has better quantitative traits.