MSc

Blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) is an important short duration pulse crop
occupying unique position in Indian agriculture. Its seeds are highly nutritious and used in
the preparation of many popular dishes. Pulses are part of the daily diet of vegetarians
world over. They are rich in protein (20-30 %) and are an excellent source of dietary fiber,
low molecular weight carbohydrates, essential aminoacids, poly unsaturated fatty acids and
range of micronutrients. In recent years there has been an increase in consumption of pulses
in several developed countries where they are increasingly considered as health food.
In Kerala, cultivation of pulses especially black gram as third crop i.e., in summer
fallows in paddy growing areas was a common practice by the farmers. However, this trend
has come down in the near past due to non availability of labourers for harvesting and low
yield of traditional varieties. Raising blackgram in coconut gardens seems as a viable
option to increase area of cultivation. In Kerala, high yielding varieties suited to both open
and shaded conditions are not available.
The study on “Genotype x environment interaction in black gram” was an attempt
to identify suitable cultures for cultivation under open condition as a sole crop in rice
fallow lands and as an intercrop in coconut garden. Materials used for the study consisted
of ten black gram cultures developed by pedigree breeding from four crosses in the
stabilized generation at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics. The check varieties
were TAU-1, T-9, Sumanjana and Syama. The crop was raised under open and shade
condition during kharif , rabi and summer seasons of 2013-2014. The plants were raised
in plots of five meter square with two replications. All the observations were recorded at
harvest except days to flowering. The data was analyzed for stability by Eberhart and
Russell’s model as pooled over open condition, pooled over shade condition and pooled
over all the six environments.
According to Eberhart and Russell’s model of stability a good genotypes is the one
having high mean value, non significant bi and S2di value. Stability analysis by Eberhart
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and Russell’s model pooled over open condition showed that there was no variation
between genotypes under three seasons for days to flowering, length of pod and number of
seeds per pod. Also none of the genotypes showed stability for protein content. Genotypes
were ranked based on stability, yield and major yield contributing characters. The
genotypes with least score were T6, T5 and T9. These can be recommended for cultivation
under open condition.
Stability analysis by Eberhart and Russell’s model pooled over shade condition
showed that that there was no variation between genotypes under three seasons for number
of seeds per pod. None of the genotype was stable for protein content. Ranking of
genotypes showed that genotypes T3, T5, T6 and T10 can be recommended for cultivation
as an inter crop in coconut garden.
Estimation of stability by Eberhart and Russell’s model pooled over six
environments showed that there was variation between genotypes under the environments
for all the traits studied. Genotypes were ranked based on stability, yield and major yield
contributing characters. The genotypes with least score were T6, T5 and T3. These can be
recommended for cultivation under both the conditions.
Based on G x E analysis done by AMMI model also genotypes T5, T6 and T 3 were
identified as suitable for planting under the six environments.
The identified genotypes suitable for each condition that is genotypes T3, T5, T6,T9
and T10 has be evaluated in large plots to confirm the results and the quality of these
genotypes has to be assessed for developing as variety suitable for open condition and
intercropping.