Interspecific Hybridization Among Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper (Black Gram) and Wild Vigna Species

Black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) is a legume commonly used as proteinaceous food and forage. With the aim of improvement of black gram production and disease-resistant varieties, we initiated present investigation to select appropriate genome donor from crop wild relatives (CWRs) of Asian Vigna. In the present study, about 1163 interspecific crosses among black gram and wild Vigna species were attempted. The maximum crossability was recorded between black gram and its wild progenitor, V. silvestris (11.76%) and V. sahyadriana (9.18%). The F1 hybrids were also produced from crosses involving black gram and V. radiata, V. hainiana, V. sublobata, and V. stipulacea. The crosses among V. mungo × V. trilobata and V. mungo × V. trinervia var. trinervia showed the least crossability with an unfilled pod. We propose that this study will help in the selection of highly compatible Vigna species for black gram improvement program.