Characterization and Pattern of Seed Development in Horsegram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.] Genotypes Under Gangetic West Bengal Condition

Abstract

Horsegram is a minor pulse crop growing on 1.85 lakh hectares with 1.28 lakh tonne production and 690 kg ha^-1 productivity. The cultivation of horsegram in West Bengal is mainly restricted in the western tract which includes Purulia, Birbhum, West Midnapore as also Malda district. The main difficulty in growing horsegram is unavailability of high yielding varieties. The current study, which involved 11 genotypes, was carried out at Mundoury Teaching Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswaviddyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, during the Rabi season of 2021 and 2022. The objective of this study was to identify the promising genotypes under the gangetic West Bengal condition. The experiment also included seed development pattern of selected genotypes to determine the exact time of harvesting for maximum seed yield and quality. The genotype VLG-53 showed promising results in terms of seed yield, primary branch plant^-1, pod branch^-1 and pod plant^-1. HPKM 191 recorded maximum days to 50% flowering and maturity. IPHG 18-9 and BSP 21-1 also produced higher seed yield but IPHG 18-9 was earlier in maturity than BSP 21-1. The pattern of seed development is important to determine the best time of harvesting for maximum yield and seed quality. Pod length and pod breadth increased gradually up to 42 days of anthesis for all genotypes, with maximum germination percentage at 49 days after anthesis. Based on the seed yield and physiological characters, VLG-53 was found promising, for cultivation under Gangetic West Bengal conditions.