Selection of protein rich genotypes in urdbean [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]

Abstract

Urdbean, [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] is cultivated mainly as a source of dietary protein for its high protein content of about 25% in seeds [1]. Protein content and total protein yield, therefore, deserve emphasis in any breeding strategy in this crop. Stupendous breeding efforts have been made for augmentation of yield ceiling in this crop. Available literature, however, evidences for limited attempts on selection of genotypes with higher protein content and protein yield. Besides, it is imperative to discern out the agronomic characters associated with those two protein attributes to use them as selection criteria for screening of genotypes with higher protein content and yield. Such studies in mungbean have revealed availability of some local land races (LLR) with higher protein content and yield, and also better performance with regard to the agronomic characters related to the protein attributes [2]. The present investigation, therefore, aimed at evaluation of genetic variation in an accession collected from diverse sources with regard to protein content, protein yield and seed yield, and also on identification of agronomic characters with significant association with protein content and yield.