Fruiting and Seeding Coefficients Under Artificial Pollination in Mungbean

Fruiting and seeding coefficients were recorded in 16 diverse cultivars of mungbean, their F₁s and backcrosses in reciprocal combinations under artificial pollination. The flower-drop of emasculated flowers before pollination ranged from nil to 40 per cent, averaging 14⋅4 per cent. Under natural self pollination, the average post-pollination flower drop was 17⋅45 per cent and varieties did not differ significantly. In artificial crossing the average fruiting coefficient varied from 6⋅7 to 29⋅6 per cent, the mean being 16⋅8 per cent. Six strains showed more than twice the fruiting coefficient when used as male parents as compared to when used as female parent. Seeding coefficient varied from 36⋅4 to 95⋅4 per cent with an overall mean of 58⋅5 per cent. In B₁ and B₂ fruiting coefficient on an average was 27⋅3 and 29 per cent and seeding coefficient 54⋅8 and 65⋅1 per cent, respectively, suggesting twice as much flower retention in F₁ when used as females as compared to the crosses involving pure lines.