Black Gram
Black gram
Scientific name: Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper
Bangla/local name: ‘Mashkalai’
Taxonomic position According to Cronquist (1988)
Kingdom | : Plantae |
Division | : Magnoliophyta |
Class | :Magnoliopsida |
Subclass | : Rosidae |
Order | : Fabales |
Family | : Fabacaeae |
Genus | : Vigna |
Species | : V. mungo |
Botanical Description of Black Gram
Habit: cultivated annual herb
Root: deep rooted tap root system.
The internal structure i.e. Anatomy of Root
Stem: Erect to sub-erect, highly branching and hairy
The internal structure of stem i.e. Stem Anatomy
Leaf: alternate, compound, trifoliate, dark green, leaflets ovate
The internal structure of Leaf i.e. Leaf Anatomy
Inflorescence: an axillary raceme
Flower: zygomorphic, complete, papilionaceous
Calyx: Sepal 5, gamosepalous
Corolla: petal 5, divided into standard, wing and keel; aestivation vexilary.
Androecium: stamen 10 (9+1) diadelphous
Gynoecium: Carpel one, style spirally twisted, ovary superior, placentation marginal.
Fruit: Pod with densely trichomed
Seed: Non-endospermic, globur usually green
Economic Importance: It is one of the most important pulses. The dry beans are used as dal. The sprouted seeds are used as health tonic. The plant is used as green manure. The husked dried plant is a good fodder. The seeds are acrid, sweet, digestible, laxative and antipyretic.
Table 1. Black gram varieties released by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh, Bangladesh
Serial Number | Name of Variety | Developed by | Year of release | Growing season | Average yield (kg ha-1) |
1 | BARI Mash-1 | Pulse Research Centre, Ishurdi, Pabna | 1990 | Rabi | 1400-1500 |
2 | BARI Mash-2 | Pulse Research Centre, Ishurdi, Pabna | 1990 | Rabi | 1400-1500 |
3 | BARI Mash-3 | Pulse Research Centre, Ishurdi, Pabna | 1996 | Rabi | 1500-1600
|
4 | BARI Mash-4 | Pulse Research Centre, Ishurdi, Pabna | 2017 | Rabi | 1250-1440 |
5 | Binamash-1 | BINA, Mymensingh | 1994 | Rabi | 1600
|