<div>Background: Blackgram is generally considered as a shade sensitive crop. Nevertheless, it fits well in intercropping, crop rotation and crop mixture in coconut gardens thus forming an integral part of cropping systems of the tropics. To encourage and extend blackgram cultivation in coconut gardens, suitable varieties tolerant to shade, need to be identified. The current study aims to screen shade tolerant blackgram varieties with respect to morpho-physiological characters and yield.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2019 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, India. Uniformly spaced coconut palms of age above 40 years were selected having a light intensity of 40-46.5 Klux. Twelve promising blackgram varieties along with three cultures were evaluated under low light intensity in coconut garden. Morpho-physiological attributes and yields were recorded and analysed statistically. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Result: Superior growth attributes and physiological parameters like stomatal frequency, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate were recorded in varieties namely, DBGV 5, Sumanjana and VBN 5. These varieties were found tolerant to low light intensity with DBGV 5 recording significantly higher yield (1183.33 kg ha-1) followed by VBN 5 (916.67 kg ha-1) and Sumanjana (906.67 kg ha-1) and could be recommended as suitable for intercropping in coconut garden.</div>

​Identification of Low Light Tolerant Blackgram Varieties with Respect to Morpho-physiology and Yield

<div>Background: Blackgram is one of the most important pulse crop in India and it is being affected by a number of insect pests from seedling stage to maturity. Among them whitefly is an important insect pest that transmit the viral disease, yellow mosaic virus (YMV), which is a major disease resulting in severe yield losses accounting for about 70% and infection at early stages may result in complete failure of the crop causing huge loss to the farmers economically. To overcome the losses due to this important disease in blackgram, study of host plant resistance to whiteflies, thereby minimizing the losses due to YMV disease is of great importance. The trichome density plays an important role as a morphological anti-feedant which reduces the pest attack and subsequently lowers the disease incidence and the plants with high trichome density showed less YMV symptom. The morpho-physiological and biochemical traits play an important role in host plant resistance against YMV disease through insect vector resistance and hence, the study was undertaken. 
 
Mathods: A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19 at RARS, Lam, Guntur in a randomized block design with eight blackgram varieties and replicated thrice under receding soil moisture condition. The experiment was conducted using eight blackgram varieties (LBG 787, GBG 1, TBG 104, LBG 884, LBG 806, LBG 808, LBG 623 and LBG 752) obtained from RARS Lam, Guntur and the variety LBG 623 was considered as a susceptible check. The estimation of sugars, phenols, tannins, trichome density and SCMR was done at vegetative and reproductive stages of crop growth. 
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Result: A significant variation was observed among the varieties for all the traits observed at vegetative and reproductive growth stages during both rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19. The total sugar content of the blackgram varieties varied from 25.16 to 49.82 mgg-1 FW; the leaf phenolic content values ranged from 10.26 to 23.55 mg g-1 FW and the tannins content of the dried leaf samples ranged from 0.014 to 0.052 mgg-1 DW. The trichome density of the blackgram varieties varied from 12.91 to 74.59/cm2 of leaf area and the SCMR values ranged from 24.21 to 55.17. Higher seed yield was recorded in the variety LBG 884 followed by GBG1 and the lower seed yield was recorded in the variety LBG 623 during rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19. The YMV resistant varieties showed relatively higher phenolic, tannins content and trichome density and lower total sugar content in the leaf. The total sugar content showed a significant negative correlation with the seed yield. The SCMR value was significantly lower in the susceptible varieties of blackgram with higher disease scores.</div>

​Study of Morpho-physiological and Biochemical Traits for Resistance to Yellow Mosaic Virus (YMV) in Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] Varieties

<div>Background: Blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.), a major pulse crop of Andhra Pradesh grown in an area of 3.52 lakh ha with a production of 2.93 lakh tons during rabi season (Anonymous, 2019). One of the major characteristics for selection of blackgram varieties for rabi season under conditions of receding soil moisture in black soils is their early vigour and good weed smothering capability. Early varieties due to their early growth habit can cover the land and thus can smother weeds better than late maturing varieties. Further some variations are observed to be more tolerant to post emergence herbicide application. Hence, there is need to evaluate the promising blackgram varieties for their weed competitiveness and tolerance to pre and post emergence herbicidal application. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, with an objective to find out the competitive ability of blackgram varieties to smother weeds during rabi season of 2015-16 and 2016-17 under upland conditions. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of five methods of weed control as main plots, viz., pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 PE, imazethapyr 50 g ha-1 PoE, pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1&nbsp;PE fb imazethapyr 50 g ha-1, PoE, manual weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS) along with inter cultivation at 30 DAS and unweeded; four blackgram varieties, viz., GBG 1, PU 31, LBG 787, LBG 752, as sub treatments which were replicated thrice. 
 
Result: Weed dry matter recorded at 45 days was lower and weed control efficiency (WCE) was higher with pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 PE fb imazethapyr 50 g ha-1 PoE and was on par with manual weeding with inter cultivation. All the varieties were comparable and equally effective in controlling weed dry matter. Yield of variety GBG 1 was higher due to higher yield attributes viz., no. of pods per plant and 100 seed weight. Among the weed control methods manual weeding treatment with inter cultivation recorded significantly higher yield followed by a combination of pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 PE fb imazethapyr 50 g ha-1 PoE. Further, varieties GBG 1 and PU 31 performed better in manual weeding treatment with intercultivation and without any herbicide use.</div>

<div>Response of Blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) Varieties to Weed Competition and to Pre and Post Emergence Herbicide Application during Rabi</div>

Background: Coconut is one of the major plantation crops in Kerala which are planted at a wider spacing of 7.6 m &times; 7.6 m giving an ample opportunity for growing intercrops. To enhance soil fertility and productivity of crops inclusion of legumes is a viable option. Blackgram, though a shade sensitive crop performs well in partially shaded coconut gardens due to fast growing nature. The unique ability of biological nitrogen fixation, soil amelioration, carbon sequestration, low water requirement and capacity to withstand extreme drought, pulses have remained an integral component of coconut based cropping system. Since blackgram is a shade sensitive crop, to increase the productivity of blackgram in coconut garden, foliar spray of nutrients and growth regulators is a viable option. Under, shaded or stressed situations, nutrients and plant growth regulators provide optimum vegetative growth by regulating plant growth and architecture. The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of foliar nutrition and growth regulator application on the physiology and yield of different blackgram varieties. 
 
Methods: A field trial was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, India during rabi 2020 and summer 2020-21. To find the performance of five blackgram varieties. The treatments consisted of five performing blackgram varieties under partial shade viz; Sumanjana, DBGV 5, VBN 5, VBN 6, CO 6 and foliar sprays of nutrients (19:19:19 NPK, sulphate of potash) and plant growth regulators [naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and salicylic acid (SA)] alone and in combinations in split plot design at 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS).&nbsp; 
 
Result: The study identified Sumanjana and DBGV 5 as shade adaptive varieties with suitable physiological traits. In both seasons, a higher stomatal conductance and lower stomatal index were observed, indicating a more efficient allocation of resources towards the photosynthetic machinery. Foliar spray of 19:19:19 (1%) and NAA at 40 mg/L and SA at 100 mg/L at 45 and 60 DAS resulted in higher seed yield, dry matter production and also higher net income and benefit cost ratio for these two varieties.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Physiological Response of Blackgram Varieties to Foliar Nutrition and Growth Regulators under Partial Shade in Coconut Orchard in Kerala

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted at Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, Tamil Nadu during Summer, 2013 and 2014 to study the response of blackgram varieties to different levels of irrigation through applied sprinkler system. Four levels of irrigation I1 - 50 per cent pan evaporation through sprinkler irrigation, I2 - 75 per cent pan evaporation through sprinkler irrigation, I3 - 100 per cent pan evaporation through sprinkler irrigation and I4 - Surface irrigation in main plot and three blackgram varieties viz., ADT 5, PBG 4 and VBN BG 6 were evaluated in split plot design with three replications. Sprinkler irrigation at 100% &nbsp; pan evaporation in variety ADT 5 gave significantly better growth and yield attributes and higher grain yield of 1217 kg/ha which was at par with surface irrigation method in ADT 5 variety (1184 kg/ha). Surface irrigation method utilized higher amount of irrigation water of 428.1 mm and 413.6 mm, whereas, sprinkler irrigation at 100% pan evaporation utilized minimum amount of irrigation water of 329.2 mm and 308.7 mm during summer 2013 and 2014, respectively. Water saving under sprinkler irrigation at 100% pan evaporation was 23.1% and 25.4% as compared to surface irrigation method during summer 2013 and 2014, respectively.</div>

Effect of sprinkler irrigation levels on the performance of blackgram (Vigna mungo) varieties

<div>Background: Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important staple food in the lowland of North Shewa, Ethiopia. However, the crop is less researched in this area. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the performance of improved open pollinated variety maize with the participation of farmers&rsquo; using their selection criteria for cultivation in the lowland areas of North Shewa. 
 
Methods: Fourteen open pollinated maize varieties including local were evaluated in the lowland of Eastern Amhara at Eferatana Gedim district, Yimlo research station in 2016 and 2017 main cropping season. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. Five agronomic and yield traits were collected in both cropping years. In addition, maize small holder farmers were participated to evaluate and score varieties using the matrix ranking method based on the farmers&rsquo; selection attributes. 
 
Result: The combined analysis of variance across years showed that highly significant (p&lt;0.01) difference for days to anthesis, grain yield. The highest grain yield was obtained from Melkassa-4 (5243 kg/ha) and Melkasa-2 (5115 kg/ha) while the lowest yield was recorded from Rare-1 (3294 kg/ha). The overall yielding ability of Melkasa-4 was higher as compared with the tested varieties. In addition, this variety was highly appreciated by maize farmers in both cropping years. Based on farmer&rsquo;s selection and yield potential, therefore, Melkassa-4 has recommended for the lowlands of North Shewa and similar agro ecologies in Ethiopia. Support is needed to scale-up and deliver such improved variety through involving farmers in the selection and dissemination of varieties that are adapted to their needs, as it incurred income, good in crop rotation and animal feed.</div>

Participatory Variety Selection of Maize (Zea mays L.) Varieties in the Low Lands of Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

Background: Varieties identification is essential for protecting seeds sold to farmers from counterfeiting. Currently, the grow-out test (GOT) is used for varieties identification. This test is constrained by its long assessment, environmental dependency and subjective nature. Alternative test/tests are needed. This study aimed to determine the utility of microsatellite markers as a complement to GOT in varieties identification. 
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Methods: In this study, six varieties of commercial maize hybrids released in Tanzania, herein coded as H1, H2, H3, H5, H6 and H9, were selected as candidates. For morphological evaluation, a field experiment was laid out in a complete randomized block design, followed by the collection of phenotypic data. The qualitative data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA in SPSS v.20 software, while qualitative data were summarized in a frequency distribution table. On the other hand, by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), seven microsatellite markers were used to fingerprint the varieties. The PCR results were manually scored and transferred to GenAIEX v.6.5 and DARwin v.6. software for genetic distance and clustering analysis, respectively. 
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Result: Quantitative data showed significant variation in all the tested varieties at p&lt;0.05, whereas 15 qualitative traits out of 21 showed phenotypic variations among the tested varieties. Furthermore, two microsatellite markers, namely phi080 and umc1071, out of the seven markers used in this study, proved useful in the fast and timely identification of two varieties (H1 and H2) out of six varieties. Nei&rsquo;s genetic distance ranged from zero to four; the highest measure of genetic distance was observed in H1, followed by H2 and the least measure was observed in both of the four varieties. Neighbor Joining clustered the varieties into three different populations that distinguished each of H1 and H2 from the rest of the four varieties. This study shows that microsatellite markers are a promising complement to GOT in varietal identification.

Assessment of Microsatellite Markers for Varieties Identification: A Case of Six Varieties of Maize Hybrids Sold in Tanzania

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.), commonly known as urdbean, mash, black mapte and other names, is a popular short-season pulse crop farmed throughout India. This crop is extensively sown in conjunction with various cropping systems under residual moisture conditions after wheat harvest as summer crops under irrigated conditions and due to its high protein and carbohydrate content, as well as its short duration crop, it is suitable in summer crop grown between wheat and rice. 
 
Methods: Field experiments was carried out during two consecutive summer seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 to study residual effect of biofertilizer and foliar nutrition on plant height and yield attributes of summer blackgram (Vigna mungo) under different fertility levels at the Research Farm, Division of Agronomy, SKUAST- J, Chatha. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with three factors replicated thrice.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Maximize residual effect of nutrients on blackgram after raised wheat as a major crop among the fertility levels including biofertilizer and foliar application, recommended dose fertilizer achieved, growth parameters viz, yield attributing characters, number of pods/plants, number of grains /plants, 1000-grains weight, seed yield, stover yield and harvest index as compared to 75% of RDF. However, control recorded lowest values of all growth, yield attributing parameter and yield of blackgram crop. Whereas, soil application of biofertilizer consortium recorded higher plant height and yield attributing characters of blackgram in comparison to seed treatment with biofertilizer consortium applied in wheat as main crop. Among the foliar application of 2% of NPK (19:19:19) higher values of growth character, yield and yield attributing parameters of blackgram were recorded in foliar application of 2% NPK (19:19:19) at flowering stage as compared to tillering and tillering + flowering stages of wheat crop during both the years. Economics of blackgram in terms of net return and B:C ratio was influenced by residual effect of various applied in wheat crop and recorded higher in RDF fertility, soil application of biofertilizer consortium and foliar application of 2% NPK at flowering stage.</div>

Residual Effect of Fertility Levels, Biofertilizer and Foliar Nutrition on Yield and Yield Attributes of Summer Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in Wheat-blackgram Cropping System under Subtropical Conditions in Jammu

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) caused by Yellow mosaic virus is one of the major constraints in the pulse production in Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) due to fast evolution of strains, like Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV). Keeping this in view, a survey was undertaken in the major blackgram growing districts of A.P. to know the YMD incidence in blackgram and weed hosts and were characterized based on genetic features by comparing with other YMV isolates from different hosts and locations across the world. 
 
Methods: Roving survey was conducted during rabi 2019-20 in major blackgram growing districts of A.P. viz., Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and Prakasam districts for YMD incidence. Blackgram plants showing characteristic symptoms were collected as representative samples from each mandal along with the suspected weed plants and were subjected to amplification using coat protein (CP) specific primers followed by molecular characterization. Phylogenetic tree for coat protein (CP) gene was constructed using aligned sequences with 1000 bootstrap replicates following neighbor-joining phylogeny. 
 
Result: Out of the four districts surveyed, the highest disease incidence was recorded at Machavaram village of Prakasam district (43.22%), whereas least disease incidence was recorded at Chinaganjam village of Praksam district (2.4%). Six weeds viz., Ageratum conyzoides, Amaranthus viridis, Parthenium hysterophporus, Vigna trilobata, Abelmoscus moschatus, Desmodium laxiflorum have showed positive result in PCR amplification with MYMIV specific coat protein primers. Four isolates from blackgram samples and two from weed plants shared 94.85 to 99.58% nucleotide identity among themselves.&nbsp;</div>

Survey for Yellow Mosaic Disease Occurring on Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] and Weed Hosts in Four Major Blackgram Growing Districts of Andhra Pradesh and Characterization of Associated Viruses using Coat Protein Gene

<div>Background: Maize is the third most important food crop in India. Conventionally it is a furrow irrigated crop and hence, it calls for an effective on-farm management of water in field through micro irrigation. Intensive agriculture practice like continuous monocropping without following the principles of crop rotation and sequence have resulted in several ecological complications. Hence, blackgram was introduced as a succeeding crop after drip irrigated maize. The aim of the study was to examine the residual effect of drip irrigation levels and maize genotypes and their interaction on succeeding crop i.e. blackgram.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: During summer 2018 and 2019, maize experiment was conducted with four irrigation levels (drip irrigation at 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 ETc and furrow irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio) and four maize genotypes (NK-6240, Pinnacle, CP-818 and RCRMH-2). After maize, succeeding blackgram was taken up under rainfed condition of Dharwad during kharif 2018 and 2019.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Performance of blackgram was superior under residual effect of drip irrigation treatments over furrow irrigation method. Among the interactions, significantly higher yield, RWUE and net returns were recorded with residual effect of I1G4 treatment combination. However, it was on par with I1G2, I1G3, I1G1, I2G1, I2G2, I2G4, I3G2 and I3G3 treatment combinations.</div>

Residual Effect of Irrigation Levels and Maize Genotypes on Performance of Succeeding Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in Maize-blackgram Sequence Cropping