Field Screening and Molecular Characterization of Urdbean Genotypes for Yellow Mosaic Disease

Abstract

Background: Urdbean [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] is an important pulse crop in India as well as in South East Asia. It is an excellent source of easily digestible, good quality protein. Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus causing Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) is one of the most devastating diseases affecting urdbean production and productivity to a large extent. Identification of resistant genotypes is one of the most important aspects in the management of MYMV diseases. The current study aimed to identify the MYMV resistant urdbean genotypes in order to manage and control the MYMV disease. Methods: In present investigation, a total 100 urdbean genotypes were screened against MYMV under natural field conditions in the augmented design by planting 2 rows of two test entries each alternated with one row of susceptible check. Further, selected genotypes which showed disease free, highly resistant, resistant, moderately resistance and susceptible reaction in field screening were used to tag RAPD markers associated with MYMV resistance in urdbean. Result: Out of 100 genotypes tested, only one genotype, NDU 12-1 was found to be disease free, twenty seven genotypes found to be highly resistance and four genotypes showed resistance consistently for four consecutive seasons (two summer and two Kharif) during 2017-2018. However, four genotypes were found to be superior for seed yield among all the genotypes tested as well as resistant to MYMV. The RAPD analysis clearly grouped all the MYMV resistant genotypes studied in cluster I whereas the susceptible genotypes were clustered together in the cluster II. The present work has successfully identified the MYMV resistant urdbean genotypes which can be used in MYMV resistance breeding programme.