Evaluation of Blackgram Genotypes for their Drought Tolerance at Seedling and Vegetative Phase

Aim: To screen and identify blackgram genotypes for drought tolerance at seedlings and vegetative stage.

Study Design: Completely randomized complete block design.

Place of Study: National Pulses Research Centre (NPRC), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vamban, Pudukkottai District.

Methodology: Laboratory experiments was conducted at NPRC, Vamban. Twenty-Five blackgram varieties were used for this study. For screening at seedling stage, the treatments were T1 - Control – Water (0 Mpa) and T2 - PEG 6000 induced drought stress (-0.5 MPa). Blackgram seeds were germinated in water and PEG 6000 solution (-0.5 MPa). On the eighth day various seedling growth indices were recorded. For pot culture experiments, the two treatments were imposed T1 – Control and T2 – Drought stress (50% Field capacity) after the appearance of two trifoliate leaves by gravimetric approach. The stress was imposed for five days. At the end of fifth day, growth parameters, relative water content and leaf chlorophyll content was recorded. Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data.

Results: In blackgram, drought stress at seedling stage affects the seedling germination, establishment and its growth indices. At vegetative stage, drought stress negatively affects the plant growth, leaf area, leaf relative water content and chlorophyll content. Among the blackgram genotypes screened, the genotypes VBG 11031 and VBG 1711 were found to be tolerant to PEG 6000 induced drought stress at seedling stage. At vegetative stage, the genotypes VBG 11062, VBG 11024 and VBG 1725 were tolerant to drought stress at vegetative stage.

Conclusion: Present study concluded that the blackgram genotypes VBG 11031, VBG 1711, VBG 11062, VBG 11024 and VBG 1725 were found to be tolerant to drought stress at seedling and vegetative stage.