Studies on hybrids and transgressive segregates in wide crosses of mungbean and urdbean

Interspecific hybrids involving four genotypes of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) as female and the three genotypes of urdbean (Vigna mungo L.) as male were studied. Genotypes influenced crossability, germination, survival and fertility of F₁s. The crossed seeds were shrivelled and the F₁s were partially fertile, late maturing and intermediate in morphology. Purple colour of the stem was dominant over green colour. Only 2out of 6 hybrids, namely, BHUM 1 X Pant U30 and T44 X T 9 resulted in fertile F₁s which reached maturity. Fertility of the progenies improved from F₂ to F₄ generations. Desirable transgressive segregates observed in the advanced generations open up new avenues for amelioration of these crops.