Research article RELATIONSHIP OF GRAIN FILLING WITH GRAIN YIELD OF MUNG-BEAN AFFECTED BY HYDRO-PRIMING DURATION AND WATER SUPPLY

Grain filling is a crucial determinant of yield. Thus, a split-plot experiment based on RCB design with three replications was conducted in 2013, in order to evaluate the effects of water supply (I1, I2, I3 and I4: irrigation after 70, 100, 130 and 160 mm evaporation from class A pan, respectively) and hydro-priming duration (P1, P2 and P3: 0, 8 and 16 h, respectively) on grain filling of mung bean (Vigna radiata L). The highest grain filling rate was observed for P3, but there was no statistical difference between P1 and P2. Grain filling duration and maximum grain weight decreased with decreasing water availability. Seeds hydro-primed for 16h had the highest maximum grain weight, but there was no significant difference between P2 and P3. Water stress significantly reduced grain yield per unit area, although no significant difference between I1 and I2 treatments was observed. Grain yield per unit area for P3 plants was higher than that of P1 and P2 plants. Grain filling duration and maximum grain weight had the highly positive correlations with grain yield per unit area. Hydro-priming for 16 h had the highest beneficial effects on field performance of mung-bean seeds.