Interspecific crossability among four species of Vigna food legumes

Abstract

Interspecific crossability among four species of Vigna, namely, V. radiata (mungbean),V. mungo (black gram), V. umbellata (rice bean) and V. angularis (adzuki bean), was investigated. Pod-set and percentages of pods harvested varied with the combinations of two parental cultivars of each species for most of the interspecific hybrid crosses. The use of intraspecific hybrids as parents was slightly superior to cultivars for interspecific hybridization. A remarkable increase in viable seed production was found for the interspecific cross,V. radiata x V. umbellata, by using intraspecific hybrid as parents. Furthermore, a successful interspecific hybrid of V. mungo x V. angularis was accomplished through the use of intraspecific hybrid parents. Reciprocal cross differences were common in all the interspecific combinations. Except for the cross between V. umbellata and V. angularis, all other reciprocal interspecific crosses were unsuccessful.