Genetics of anthocyanin pigmentation in blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)

Abstract

The blue-red purple coloration in hypocotyle, petiole, immature pods and adjacent plant parts in blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) usually results from the presence of a class of water soluble pigments i.e. anthocyanins. The genes controlling the production and distribution of anthocyanin pigments are useful marker genes. The flavonoid pathway leading to anthocyanins has been well-characterized in a number of model systems, including, maize, petunia, snapdragon and, more recently, Arabidopsis. Genetic characterization has been made for expression of this important plant pigment in many crops. Various workers have reported that a single dominant gene conditioned inheritance of anthocyanin pigmentation in different crops like, cowpea, mungbean, linseed etc. However, the anthocyanin in hypocotyls of mungbean was found to be controlled by two supplementary genes with recessive epistatic interaction [1]. The present study aims at study of inheritance of anthocyanin pigmentation on different plant parts of blackgram.