Assessment of Variability and Association on Bruchine Resistance Traits (Callosobruchus maculatus F.) among Segregating Populations of Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper

Abstract

Background: Bruchine is one of the notorious pests that renders both the quantity and quality of pulses stored produce especially blackgram. Hence the present study was carried out to ascertain the essential selection indices among the bruchine resistance traits involved. Methods: A laboratory experiment was conducted to estimate the variability parameters for traits related to bruchine infestation in various crosses of blackgram viz., MDU1 × TU68, VBN6 × TU68 and VBN8 × TU68 at National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban. Observations were recorded for eight bruchine resistance traits on each single plants from three crosses. Result: The results indicated that all traits viz., total number of adult emergence, developmental time, mean developmental period, index of susceptibility, seed damage (%) and seed weight loss (%) recorded high PCV and GCV in all crosses except developmental time which had moderate to low variation. All traits also recorded high heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean in all crosses except developmental time. Developmental time had moderate to high heritability and genetic advance over the crosses. Considering skewness and kurtosis, the cross MDU 1 × TU 68 had a wide variation for total number of adult emergence and seed damage. Hence the cross MDU 1 × TU 68 could be selected for the selection of bruchid resistant individuals. The association studies revealed that traits viz., developmental time, total number of adult emergence, index of susceptibility and seed damage were reliable selection indices for the seed weight loss.