Mungbean (Vigna radiata) is a nutritionally rich leguminous crop widely consumed in both its whole and processed forms. Seed coat color affects consumer preference and nutritional value. The objective of this study sought to investigate the genetic inheritance of seed coat color and anthocyanin content in mungbean. Qualitative and quantitative genetic analyses for the traits succeeded in using parental and populations derived from crosses between Kamphaeng Saen 2 (KPS2; green seed) × Jessore (yellow seed) and KPS2 × LD2016-002 (black seed). The χ² analysis showed seed coat color behaves as a simple Mendelian trait, with yellow being recessive to green and black dominant over green. The generation mean analysis suggested the primary influences for anthocyanin concentration in the green × yellow cross come from a single major gene, while the green × black cross involves additional genes. Estimates of the number of effective factors in both crosses also pointed to the presence of a major gene with a strong effect. However, the continuous distribution of anthocyanin content in segregating populations in both crosses indicates the trait is quantitative in nature, implying the involvement of multiple genes aside from the major gene primarily controlling pigment accumulation. These findings are useful for breeding for mungbean seed quality.

Keywords: Mungbean, seed coat color, anthocyanin, generation mean analysis, genetic inheritance

Key findings: Chi-square analysis indicated the yellow seed coat color is recessive to green and has the control from a single gene, whereas the black seed coat color is dominant over green and also has a single gene governing it. Generation mean analysis of the green × yellow cross demonstrated monogenic control of anthocyanin content, while analysis of the green × black cross suggested the involvement of two or more genes in controlling this trait.