Evaluation of Mucuna utilis germplasm for higher biomass production, active principle and seed yield

Abstract

Mucuna pruriens var utilis is a high value medicinal crop grown for its seed to extract L-3,4-dihyroxy-phenylalanine (L-DOPA). L-DOPA used against Parkinson’s disease although Mucuna utilis is having commercial value for its seed, there has been no commercial variety identified for cultivation, superior in seed yield or in active principle. Hence a field study was proposed for evaluation of germplasm for total biomass production, active principle and seed yield. Field experiment was conducted using 13 genotypes to evaluate germplasm for higher biomass production, active principle and seed yield at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore. Results suggested that IIHR MP 09 recorded highest number of bunches per plant, number of pods per bunch, number of seeds per pod. IIHR MP 03 recorded highest pod length (10.40 cm) and pod weight (11.49 g) and IC 33243 recorded highest 100- seed weight (132.06 g). Seed yield (180.88 g m-2) found to be recorded the highest in IIHR MP 09 and active principle L-DOPA per cent in seed sample varied from 6.61 per cent in IIHR MP 02 to 4.11 per cent in IIHR MP 17. Key words: Mucuna pruriens, seed yield, L-DOPA.