Screening and Evaluation of Local Cultivars of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) for Disease Tolerance under the Western Undulating Zone of Odisha, India

Abstract

Performance of sixteen genotypes comprising fourteen local cultivars collected from different parts of Odisha and two released varieties were systematically evaluated for yield performance, Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMV) and powdery mildew disease tolerance at the Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (RRTTS), Bhawanipatna, under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Kalahandi district of Odisha. The experiment was conducted over three consecutive years to ensure reliability and consistency of results. The local cultivars were well adapted to the native agro-climatic conditions and performed significantly better than the released varieties under the prevailing environmental situation. Though the yield of these cultivars fluctuated each year with changes in sowing dates and temperature variations, certain cultivars consistently showed superior performance. Among them, Khara muga, Kala muga, and Jhain muga were found to be the most promising for both yield potential and disease tolerance in this zone. Cultivars exhibiting tolerance to YMV and powdery mildew diseases recorded considerably higher yields compared to the susceptible ones, indicating a strong correlation between disease resistance and productivity. In particular, the local cultivar Jhain muga showed no incidence of either powdery mildew or YMV during all three experimental years. Hence, this genotype can serve as a valuable parent line in breeding programs aimed at improving both disease resistance and yield potential of greengram for sustainable cultivation under Western Undulating Zone conditions of Odisha.