Abstract
Background: Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) is a multipurpose, drought-tolerant legume valued for its vegetable, feed and industrial uses, particularly for guar gum production. Considerable variability exists among cluster bean germplasm for growth, yield and quality traits. Evaluating this variability under specific agro-climatic conditions is essential for identifying well-adapted genotypes and selecting promising parental material for crop improvement programmes.
Aim: To screen and evaluate diverse cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) genotypes for growth, yield and yield-attributing traits under the agro-climatic conditions of the southern coastal tracts of Tamil Nadu and to identify superior, well-adapted genotypes suitable for cultivation in the region.
Study Design: Randomised Block Design with three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted from January to April 2022 in a field at Poothurai village, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, to evaluate and screen cluster bean germplasm.
Methodology: A total of 102 genotypes (including Pusa Navbahar, a check variety) procured from various regions of the country were utilised. Observations were recorded for growth attributes (plant height; number of branches per plant; days to maturity), flowering and pod characters (days to 50% flowering; number of clusters per plant; number of pods per cluster; pod length; pod girth), yield parameters (pod weight; number of pods per plant; total pod yield per plant), seed characters (number of seeds per pod; hundred-seed weight; total seed yield per plant) and physiological components (guar gum; protein and fibre) on five randomly selected plants.
Results: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and mean performance revealed significant differences among the genotypes studied. Genotypes performing better than the population mean and the check variety (Pusa Navbahar) for the observed parameters were identified. Pusa Navbahar was superior to most genotypes for the observed attributes.
Conclusion: The better-performing genotypes may be considered as parental material when designing crop improvement programmes.