Morpho-genetic assessment and dissecting the genetic architecture for Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) resistance in mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek

Abstract

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) has a substantial negative impact on mung bean production across the world. It is crucial to identify and incorporate alleles that might be helpful in combating CLS in order to maintain mung bean health, and productivity. Therefore, 90 mung bean genotypes, including four check varieties, and 66 polymorphic SSR markers were included in the present study during pre-rabi 2018 and pre-rabi 2019. Morpho-genetic analysis revealed a higher value of GCV for yield, cluster and pod numbers per plant, and plant height. All traits had excellent genetic advance (GA), with the exception of the number of seeds per pod, which was medium. PCA was used to separate up to 85.656 % of the variation in the characteristics between the two primary PCs. Molecular dissection revealed, the markers CEDG118 and CEDG074 to yield more genetic diversity, followed by CEDG073, CEDG030 and CEDG147. Estimation of allele frequencies revealed some alleles of the markers found linked to CLS resistance, i.e., CEDG001 (111 bp and 135 bp), CEDG006 (135 bp), CEDG153 (117 bp), CEDG210 (193 bp), CEDG117 (112 bp), CEDG020 (143 bp), CEDG067 (93 bp), CEDG146 (111 bp), and CEDG071 (231 bp and 267 bp). The highest private allelic frequency was employed by the markers CEDG153 and CEDG146. The dendrogram divided the panel population into two major clusters. However, two distinct genetic structure were found within the population. According to these findings, the mung bean germplasm panel used in the present study may have the ability to improve the local gene pool and aid in the development of CLS resistance breeding strategies using genomic tools and techniques.