Characterization and Selection of Bruchid [Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)] Tolerant Greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] Genotypes

Abstract

Bruchid, a cosmopolitan and most notorious field carryover storage grain pest in greengram causes severe damage in storage conditions. Hence, breeding efforts were made to develop bruchid tolerant genotypes involving two agronomically superior genotypes DGGV-2 and DGGV-7 and two bruchid tolerant genotypes V-02-709 and V-02-802. The F3 genotypes were screened through a ‘free choice test’ and further evaluated under the ‘force choice test’ for confirmation of resistance. The genotypes derived from the F3 family involving cross between V-02-802 × DGGV-7 and V-02-802 × DGGV-2 were found to be resistant with a longer mean developmental period (34.76 days and 33.53 days), low infestation (27.66 and 30.33 %) and low susceptibility index (0.039 and 0.043). The correlation amongst the various parameters, the mean developmental period has shown significantly negative correlation (r = -0.848) with susceptibility index; indicating that the resistance genotypes have shown a delay in a developmental period which can reduce the seed loss during storage condition. Hence, the superior genotypes can be further backcrossed with resistant source V-02-802 to recover bruchid resistant genes and can be used in breeding programmes aimed at the development of bruchid resistance lines.