Identification and evaluation of Mungbean dry root rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) resistant RILs for yield related traits

Abstract

In mungbean dry root rot is an emerging disease due to climate change, as its incidence is more prevalent in high temperature regions. The RIL population developed in the glasshouse under controlled conditions during May 2022 to June 2024 at the World Vegetable Centre, South Central Asia, Hyderabad screened for dry root rot disease resistance through sick pot method. Among the 310 RIL population screened, 30 RILs exhibited resistance/moderate resistance and the remaining 280 RILs were found susceptible. These 30 resistant RILs were evaluated for yield and yield contributing traits using RCBD design during summer 2025 at the college farm, PJTAU, Hyderabad. The study revealed that there was a significant variation (p < 0.001) observed for all the traits evaluated among the RILs. Seed yield per plant is positively correlated with PPP (r = 0.32) and CPP (r = 0.26). It is negatively correlated with DTF and DTM. The traits DTF and DTM are highly correlated (r = 0.94). Similarly, the traits PPP and CPP are highly correlated (r = 0.52). We identified RILs 160, 162 and 113 as promising for seed yield per plant. The RILs 160 and 162 exhibited more number of PPP, CPP, SPP and higher HSW which contributed to higher seed yield per plant. The highest direct effect on seed yield per plant was exhibited by pods per plant (0.30) followed by clusters per pod (0.16). This study enabled the resistant sources for DRR in mungbean and also provided the promising RILs which can be useful in further breeding programmes for mungbean improvement.