Identification of Photosensitive lines in Black Gram and their Characterization

One hundred and sixty accessions of black gram (Vigna mungo) germplasm were characterized and evaluated for 22 qualitative and quantitative agro-morphological traits during kharif (rainy) and rabi (post-rainy) seasons of 2005 and 2006. Two accessions, viz., IC343880 and IC426765 did not flower during the rainy season of 2005–06 and 2006–07, while they produced flowers and pods in the successive post-rainy season and, therefore, were identified as photosensitive. These two accessions were studied for their qualitative and quantitative traits in comparison with the check varieties (LBG-20, T-9 and PU-19). A comparative account of morphological traits of these identified germplasm lines with that of published literature on photosensitive released variety (LBG-17) are also provided. The uses of these potential genotypes in black gram improvement as also their alternative use as green manure and cover crop, are discussed.