Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
PS Devanand, R Vijayan, M Umadevi, P Radha, K Hemaprabha, KB Sujatha, K Nelson Navamani Raj, B Sivakumar, S Utharasu, M Kiruba, K Sivakumar, PS Vijayanand and K Kumaran

Abstract:
Forage legumes play an invaluable part in forage and grassland farming. They are known for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and their superior feeding values in comparison to that of grasses. Among the several species used, Vigna trilobata commonly known as pillipesara or jungli moth, and Vigna stipulacea popularly referred toas Minni payaru are widely cultivated as fodder or cover crop in various parts of India. These two species are most closely related and belong within section Aconitifoliae, subgenus Ceratrotropis of the Asian Vignas. They are native to Asia, being found in India, Indonesia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam etc. Vigna trilobata is also found naturalised in various parts of Africa, Australia and South America. The species are sown in India as a short-term pasture and green manure crop. Various medicinal and therapeutic properties are also attributed to them including in the treatment of liver disorders, fevers, eye ailments, dyspepsia etc. Both species are semi-domesticates and being crops of minor importance there are very few studies on the state of variability or in terms of their evaluation as a genetic resource. The fullest possible range of landraces and cultivars needs to be collected and conserved together with the conspecific wild-related species. The wild germplasm resources have a great potential for widening the genetic base of the Vigna gene pool by interspecific hybridization. The available genetic resources with valuable characters will therefore be required to make extended cultivation economically attractive.