Varietal differences among cajanus cajan (l.) Genotypes in germination, electrophoresis and mineral analysis

In the present investigation twelve genotypes of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) which were divided into three groups based on the duration for flower initiation i.e. Short duration (ICPL151, ICPL87, ICPL1, ICPL6), Medium duration (T21, HY2 mutant, Pusa agheti, C11) and Long duration (ICPL270, ST1, PDM1, LRG30) were selected and was raised at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Botany, Andhra University, Waltair, Visakhapatnam, A.P., India. In the present study fresh weight, dry weight, seed water content and percent moisture, electrophoresis, germination percentage and mineral analysis were studied in all the twelve genotypes of pigeonpea. There was a gradual increase in pods fresh and dry weights were recorded in all the genotypes. Water content in the seeds increased up to 30 days after flowering followed by a decline till maturity and decrease in the per cent moisture content of the seed throughout the developing period. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of different genotypes of pigeonpea seed soluble proteins were exhibited with high intensity, however short duration genotypes showed more intensive protein band staining than some medium duration and all long duration genotypes. The macronutrients phosphorous, calcium and magnesium were comparatively low in the short duration and among the micronutrients iron recorded greater values than the Zinc, copper and manganese in all the genotypes. Among all the genotypes studied the T21 of medium duration with its small seed size exhibited greatest germination percentage.