Adaptive responses of wild mungbean (Vigna radiata ssp. sublobata) to photo-thermal environment. II.* Growth, biomass, and seed yield
G. J. Rebetzke A and R. J. Lawn B CA School of Land and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia. Present address: CSIRO Plant Industry, PO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
B School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Davies Laboratory, Townsville, Qld 4814, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: robert.lawn@jcu.edu.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(8) 929-937 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05377
Submitted: 11 October 2005 Accepted: 27 March 2006 Published: 9 August 2006
Abstract
The leaf growth, dry matter production, and seed yield of 11 wild mungbean (Vigna radiata ssp. sublobata) accessions of diverse geographic origin were observed under natural and artificial photoperiod–temperature conditions, to determine the extent to which genotypic differences could be attributed to adaptive responses to photo-thermal environment. Environments included serial sowings in the field in SE Queensland, complemented by artificial photoperiod extension and controlled-environment growth rooms. Photo-thermal environment influenced leaf growth, total dry matter production (TDM), and seed yield directly, through effects of (mainly cool) temperature on growth, and indirectly, through effects on phenology. In terms of direct effects, leaf production, leaf expansion, and leaf area were all sensitive to temperature, with implied base temperatures higher than usually observed in cultivated mungbean (V. radiata ssp. radiata). Genotypic sensitivity to temperature varied systematically with accession provenance and appeared to be of adaptive significance. In terms of the indirect effects of photo-thermal environment, genotypic and environmental effects on TDM were positively related to changes in total growth duration, and harvest index was negatively related to the period from sowing to flowering, similar to cultivated mungbean. However, seed yield was positively related to the duration of reproductive growth, reflecting the indeterminate growth habit of the wild accessions. As a consequence, the wild accessions are more responsive to favourable environments than typically observed in cultivated mungbean, which is determinate in habit. It is suggested that the introduction of the indeterminate trait into mungbean from the wild subspecies would increase the responsiveness of mungbean to favourable environments, analogous to that of black gram (V. mungo). Although the wild subspecies appeared more sensitive to cool temperature than cultivated mungbean, it may provide a source of tolerance to the warmer temperatures experienced during the wet season in the tropics.
Additional keywords: cultivar improvement, germplasm resources, plant breeding.
Acknowledgments
The research reported here was supported in part by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and the CSIRO. It comprises research undertaken as part of the requirements for a MAgrSc degree awarded to GJR by the University of Queensland. The technical assistance of Mr Andrew Watkinson and Mrs Leanne Dierens is acknowledged with appreciation.
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