Pedigree analysis of cultivated germplasm is useful for evaluating the progress of cultivar development and provides the basis for selection of germplasm to beused as parents in further breeding programme. Pedigree analysis were performed to quantify the ancestral contribution of 117 blackgram cultivars released in India during the period 1949 to 2016 and were traced back to 84 ancestors. The relative genetic contribution (RGC) from ancestor was also computed. Although more ancestors were integrated into recent breeding programme, as few as 15 ancestors comprised more than 45 per cent of the genetic background. T 9 a selection from local collection of Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) was most frequently used parent followed by G 31, Netimininmu, D 6–7 and Chikkadinimu. Extensive and repetitive use of superior genotypes with common ancestors explained why the genetic base of released cultivars is narrow and the integration of new germplasm is paramount for broadening the genetic base of released cultivars of blackgram.
Ancestors, blackgram, genetic base, pedigree analysis
