​​Evaluation of Cluster Bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] Genotypes for Drought Stress Adaptation and its Effects on Yield

Abstract

Background: Cluster bean is mostly grown in dry land arid zone areas for various purposes as vegetable, seed, fodder and other industrial uses because of its gum presence in endosperm. Methods: An experiment was conducted under the rain out shelter for the evaluation of drought adaptability of selected 10 genotypes of cluster bean. The physiological parameters were used to screen the drought resistance and also recorded various yield and yield attributing parameters at the time of harvesting. Result: Among the genotypes, Pusa Navbahar was observed well adaptability having adequate relative water content, maximum chlorophyll content, stomata per unit area and higher dry matter accumulation followed by genotype IC116866. Furthermore, yield and yield attributing parameters also showed significant differences; Pusa Navbahar was recorded maximum plant height (188.6 cm), leaves per plant (173.9), pods per plant (123.9), pod length (7.1 cm) and test weight (14.3 g) and well adaptability of primary and secondary root with deep in nature under the drought stress among the genotypes. Therefore, this study would be very helpful in the proper selection of genotypes as a source of drought resistance lines in future breeding and crop improvement programmes.