Multi-environmental Screening of Mungbean for Reaction to Yellow Mosaic Virus Disease to Identify Stable Resistant Genotypes by Assessing GE Interaction

Mungbean is an important legume crop cultivated in Sri Lanka. Yellow mosaic virus disease (YMVD) is the major distructive disease affecting mungbean cultivation. Screening of 60 genotypes of mungbean was performed following infector row method over six environments representing Norhern, Suthern and Central regions of th Dry Zone in Yala and Maha seasons. The experiment in each environment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with two replicaions. Disease severity index was calculated and data were analysed by assessing Genotype × Environment (GE) interaction. GGE biplot analysis was performed to identify the most stable resistant genotypes to YMVD over diverse environments and the suitable environments for disease screening. Three mungbean genotypes namely VC 6370-92 (8), VC6371-94 (9) and VC 6372 (45-8-1) (16) were identified as the most stable resistant genotypes to YMVD over diverse environments and genotypes, VC1973A (ksp1) and Jangahn could be confirmed as susceptible checks. Out of the six tested environments, Maha seasons at the Field Crops Research and Development Institute (FCRDI), Mahailluppallama and Yala and Maha seasons at the Grain Legumes and Oil Crops Research and Development Center (GLOCRDC), Agunakolapalassa, were identified as the most suitable environments for screening mungbean genotypes for stable resistance to YMVD. Multi-environment testing and assessing GE interaction to identify genotypes with stable resistance to disease appeared highly valuable and beneficial in crop improvement programs for disease resistance. It may serve as a model for any crop improvement program.