Crossability Studies Among Various Species of Genus Vigna

Abstract

A total of 30 inter-specific crosses of Vigna mungo x V. umbellata (urdbean x ricebean) and V. mungo x V. angularis (urdbean x adzukibean) were attempted to study the crossability of urdbean with ricebean and adzukibean. Out of 30 cross combinations, 12 cross combinations of V. mungo x V. umbellata were successful. Day-to-day visual observations showed that most of the emasculated buds dropped the very next day after pollination and some aborted after about a week. Some of the crosses developed into pods without seeds and dropped. Pod formation involving V. angularis as one of the parents in inter-specific hybridization was not very successful as there was no pod formation and buds dropped after 1-3 days of pollination. Among the crosses of V. mungo x V. umbellata, the crossability of Palampur-93 x PRR-2 was highest (14.18%) followed by Him Mash-1 x VRB-3 (13.64%) and PDU-1 x PRR-2 (13.05%). Interspecific hybridization was performed with the objective to transfer disease resistance in urdbean. The s tudy indicated that different kinds of pre and post fertilization barriers are responsible for complete sterility to low fertility. The genotypes showing a substantially high percent of crossability may be utilized for genetic improvement of urdbean.