New high yielding and disease resistant mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] variety “NIFA Mung-19”

Abstract

Mungbean is an important kharif crop of Pakistan as well as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The overall yield of this crop is low and one of the main reasons is the poor genetic background of the existing mungbean varieties in the country. Mungbean varieties adapted to the growing conditions have purple hypocotyls, whereas mungbean varieties with green hypocotyls have an additional potential for sprouts production. In order to replenish the existing pool of mungbean varieties with better ones, a locally adapted mungbean variety “NM 92” and an exotic Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV) susceptible variety “VC 1560D” were crossed (NM 92 x VC 1560D) in kharif 2004 at Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar. Single plants selections for more pods plant-1, semi erect growth, purple/green hypocotyls color, resistance to MYMV disease, and confirmation of breeding behavior of these traits were carried-out in F2 – F5 generations during 2006-2010. One of the recombinants designated as NFM-5-36-27 was selected on the basis of overall better performance with green hypocotyls color, and further evaluated in disease screening nurseries and various replicated yield trials. NFM-5-36-27 produced seed yield of 530 to 2076 kg ha-1 in replicated yield trials conducted during different years and locations compared with the check variety Ramzan (316 – 1417 kg ha-1) with 38% to 68% increases in seed yield over Ramzan. In Mungbean National Uniform Yield Trial conducted in 2015 and 2017, NFM-5-36-27 produced higher seed yields of 725 and 996 kg ha-1, respectively compared with national checks. NFM-5-36-27 has a future potential for mungbean sprouts production in the country due to its green hypocotyls color. NFM-5-36-27 was recommended as new mungbean commercial variety with the name “NIFA Mung – 19 by the KP Provincial Seed Council in its 38th meeting held on 3rd January, 2018 at Peshawar. Keywords: disease; high yield; hypocotyls; recombinant; variety; Vigna radiata http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2019.80084