Physiological response, yield and dry matter partitioning in blackgram varieties under shading stress in coconut garden Pooja AP1, Ameena M1, Stephan Roy2 1Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram-695522, Kerala, India 2Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram-695522, Kerala, India *Email for correspondence: appoojaap@gmail.com
Online published on 6 December, 2021. Abstract Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L) Hepper) is a short duration pulse crop which can be grown as sole or as component crop in intercropping situation. A study was conducted to assess the differential response in physiological traits, root growth, yield and dry matter partitioning in blackgram varieties and its relation with crop performance under shading stress. Twelve varieties and three cultures were tested in coconut garden under a light intensity of 40–46.5 Kluxat the instructional farmof College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala during rabi 2019. Results of the study revealed significant variation in physiological characters, seed yield and dry matter production among the varieties and cultures. Among the varieties, DBGV 5, CO 6, VBN 6 and Sumanjana recorded higher leaf area index (LAI) and leaf area duration (LAD) at flowering and consequently higher photosynthetic rate under shading stress. Higher dry matter partitioning of assimilates to reproductive parts such as pods and seeds was also noticed in DBGV 5, VBN 5 and Sumanjana resulting in superior yields in DBGV 5 (1,183.33 kg/ha), VBN 5 (916.67 kg/ha) and Sumanjana (906.67 kg/ha) under shaded situations in coconut garden. Varieties with higher LAI and LAD at flowering coupled with greater dry matter partitioning to pods viz DBGV 5, VBN 5 and Sumanjana could be identified as tolerant to shading stress in coconut garden with higher yield. Top Keywords Blackgram, Coconut garden, Partial shade, Photosynthetic rate, Varieties, Yield. Top |