Breeding potential of crosses derived from parents differing in overall GCA status for productivity per se traits and powdery mildew disease response in blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) hepper]

Predicting the breeding potential of crosses in terms traits means, genetic variability and frequency of desirable transgressive segregants in early segregating generations is crucial in breeding programme. Therefore, an experiment was carried out to assess breeding potential of crosses involved parents with varying overall GCA status and contrasting responses to powdery mildew disease (PMD) in blackgram.

Total of 40 F₁s developed by following Line × Tester design; among, nine crosses were selected based on gca status of parents and responses to PMD. F₁, F₂ and F₃ along with parents of six and three crosses were evaluated for 10 productivity per se traits and responses to PMD separately during kharif, 2016 and rabi, 2016-17 respectively. The traits means, absolute and standardized range, PCV and frequency of transgressive segregants in F₂ and F₃ were compared to assess the breeding potential of the crosses.

F₂ and F₃ generations derived from six crosses (for productivity traits) and three crosses (for PDI) were differed for means, absolute and standardized range, PCV and the frequency of transgressive segregants. This is may be due to the contribution of diverse genes from female and male parent. Though considerable number of transgressive segregants were also identified in F₂ and F₃ of all the crosses, high frequency of desirable transgressive segregants was observed in crosses involved parents with overall high GCA status.