Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes assessment for drought tolerance in Uzbekistan

Globally, increasing water and energy demand is expected to reach 6.9 trillion cubic meters by 2030, exceeding 40% of the available water supplies. Climate change and rising temperatures caused water deficit due to lesser and irregular rainfalls, leading to lower production of crops. The research to assess drought tolerance of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes in Uzbekistan revealed the cultivar, Ishonch as the most promising for drought environments. The research, in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications with a factorial arrangement and two irrigation regimes (non-stress and water stress at the seedling stage), was conducted at the experimental field of the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, District Kibray, Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan. Ten Mungbean cultivars, i.e Durdona, Barqaror, Marjon, Andijon-1, Zilola, Ishonch, Baraka, L-59, L-88 and L-92 with diverse agronomic characteristics, were selected for their potential yield during 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons under two different environments (optimal and water deficit condition). In the Uzbekistan region, yield index, yield stability index, stress intensity, stress susceptibility percentage index, stress susceptibility index, stress tolerance index, drought intensity index, tolerance index, geometric mean productivity, relative drought index, mean relative performance, harmonic mean, mean productivity and sensitivity drought indices and their cluster analysis results were determined. The mungbean Durdona and T-59 genotypes were found to be prone to water deficit conditions. The Ishonch, Barqaror Ba L-92 genotypes were found to be a positive donor in the selection for drought.