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© 2017 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

ADAPTATION STUDY OF MUNG BEAN (VIGNA RADIATE) VARIETIES IN RAYA 
VALLEY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA   
 
 
Teame Gereziher1+ 
Ephrem Seid2 
Lemma Diriba3 
Getachew Bisrat4 
 

1,2,3Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural research: Mehoni Agricultural Research 
Center, Ethiopia 
4International Livestock Research Institute: Africa RISING Project, Ethiopia 

 

 
(+ Corresponding author) 

 ABSTRACT 
 
Article History 
Received: 27 March 2017 
Revised: 25 August 2017 
Accepted: 6 September 2017 
Published: 19 September 2017 

 
Keywords 
Mung bean 
Variety 
Vigna radiates 
Yield  
Yield components 
Adaptation 
Raya valley 
Lattice design 
 

 
In order to investigate the adaptability of mung bean varities; a study was carried out at 
the research field of Mehoni Agricultural Research Center in 2014/15 cropping season. 
Nine varities were arranged in 3*3 lattice design with three replications in six rows per 
plot with 2.4 m wide and 4 m long, and with spacing of 40 cm between rows and 10 cm 
between plants. Days to flowering, Days to maturity, Plant height, number of pods per 
plant, number of seeds per pod, hundred seed weight and grain yield per hectare was 
significantly influenced by variety. The highest grain yield (1362.50 kg ha-1) was 
obtained from Black bean variety; followed by Shewa robit (1225.00 kg ha-1). On the 
contrary, the lowest grain yield value (242.60 kg ha-1) was obtained at MH BR-1 
variety. Thus, both black bean and Shewa robit varities were best adapted in Raya 
valley. 
 

Contribution/Originality: This research finding contributes concrete information and attends the issues of 
best adaptable varieties to the specific agro-ecology (Raya valley) for mung bean producers. 
 

1. INTRODUCTION 
It is the seed of Phaseolus radiates L. an annual herb of the Leguminosae family. It has green skin and is also 

called green bean. It is sweet in flavor and cold in nature [1]. Mungbean is an annual food legume belonging to 
the subgenus Ceratotropis in the genus Vigna. Mungbean was used to be known as Phaseolus aureus before it was 
moved to the Vigna genus [2]. The genus Vigna has been broadened to embrace about 150 species; twenty two 
species are indigenous to India and sixteen to Southeast Asia, but the principal number of species are originate in 
Africa [3]. 

Ketinge, et al. [4] Stated that mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) is an essential short duration, self 
pollinated diploid legume crop with high nutritive significances and nitrogen fixing capacity. It is an eco-friendly 
food grain leguminous crop of dryland agriculture with wealthy basis of proteins, vitamins, and minerals.  

Worldwide, a total of 43,027 mungbean accessions are available at core collections or Gene Bank at different 
stations and over 110 mungbean cultivars have been released by AVRDC in South Asia and around the world. 
Mungbean germplasm is available as wild, cultivated and weedy populations, but very little is known about the 
population structure, diversity, gene flow, and introgression. The seeds of mungbean contain an average of 26% 
protein, 62.5% carbohydrates, 1.4% fat, 4.2% fibers, and vitamins [5]. 

Mung bean is originated from India and it has diversified to East, South, Southeast Asia (China) and some 
countries in Africa. It is also a recent introduction in Ethiopian pulse production and grown in the north eastern 
part of Amhara region (North Shewa, Oromiya special zone and Southern Wollo), SNNPR (Gofa area) and pocket 

Current Research in Agricultural Sciences 
2017 Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 91-95 
ISSN(e): 2312-6418 
ISSN(p): 2313-3716 
DOI: 10.18488/journal.68.2017.44.91.95 
© 2017 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 
 
 

 
 

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92 
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areas in Oromiya region (Hararge). The average yield of the crop is limited to 600-800 kg/ha due to different 
reasons [1]. Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) announces the debut of a new commodity, green mung bean, 
into its trade floor. Green mung bean is the sixth product that Ethiopian Commodity Exchange is trading. Coffee, 
sesame, white pea beans, maize and wheat have been traded in Ethiopian Commodity Exchange so far. Mung bean 
is mostly produced in Amhara regional state particularly in some areas of North Shewa and South Wollo as well as 
in some woreda’s of Benishangul Gumuz regional state [6]. Despite its growing demand in the international 
market there is chronic supply gap in Ethiopia from the production side. However Ethiopia's mung bean export 
has grown slightly from time to time [1]. 

There is a need to expand its production to other potential areas where moisture stress is confront for 
producing long maturing crops like the raya valley in northern Ethiopia. The study area is potential for lowland 
pulses like mung bean. But, the farming system is based on local varities that are low yielder, late maturing and 
vulnerable to pests. However, the improved varieties are not yet introduced to farmers in moisture stress areas 
particularly in Raya valley. Therefore, this activity was carried out to investigate and select the best adapted mung 
bean variety for the study area. 
 

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 2.1. Description of the Experimental Area  

The study was conducted at the research station of Mehoni Agricultural Research center in the Raya Valley in 
2014/15 main season, Northern Ethiopia, (12° 41'50'' S or N; 39° 42'08'' W or E; 1578 m). The site receives a mean 
annual rainfall of 540 mm with an average minimum and maximum temperature of 22 and 32°C, respectively. The 
soil textural class of the experimental area is clay loam with pH of 7.9-8.1. The area is characterized by mixed 
farming system both crop and livestock production [7]. 
 
2.2. Treatments and Experimental Procedures  

The design of the experiment was 3x3 lattice with three replications. A total of nine varieties (MB 6148-05-
12, Mong whole, Black bean, Asha, MH 85 –1, MH BR -1, MB 6173 B-23, Shewa robit and MH -97 -6) were used 
in the study. The plot size was 4 m × 2.4 m (9.6 m2) having 6 rows with harvestable plot size of 1.6 m × 4 m (6.4 
m2) and a spacing of 0.40 m between rows and 0.10 m between plants. 1.50 m between replication, 1 m between 
blocks and leave 0.50 m between plots within each block was maintained. 100 kg of DAP was set aside 
homogeneous for all treatments. Management practices like weeding, watering and thinning were done uniformly 
to all plots as per recommendations. 
 
2.3. Data Collection and Statistical Analysis  

During the experiment data on individual plant basis plant height (cm), number of pods per plant, number of 
seeds per pod, and on plot basis days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, grain yield (kg ha-1), 100 seed weight (g) 
were collected and analysed.  

Data on phenological, growth and yield components were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using 
SAS computer package version 9.1 [8] at P<0.05. when there were a significant difference among the treatment 
means the least significant difference (LSD) test will be used to compare the mean separations at P<0.05 [9]. 
 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION  
3.1 Growth and Phenological Parameters 
3.1.1. Days to 50% Flowering  

The effect of variety on days to 50% flowering, was very highly significant (Table 1), in which the maximum 
days to 50% flowering were observed in variety Black bean (58.00 days) followed by MB 6173 B-23 and Mong 
whole (55.00 days), where as the minimum value was observed in MH BR-1 having 45 days (Table 3).  
 
3.1.2. Days to 90% Maturity  
Table 1 also indicated that days to 90% maturity, which was found highly significant, (P<0.001). Concerning the 
mean value of the cropping season, significantly higher and lower days to 90% maturity were found 86.00, 84.67 
and 76.67, 75.67 days, at those varieties of Black bean, MB 6173 B-23 and Shewa robit, MH BR-1, respectively 
(Table 3). This showed that both Shewa robit and MH BR-1 matured much earlier than other varieties. This 
investigation is in line with previous reports by Wendm [10] Analysis of variance exhibits highly significant 
differences among mungbean accessions with respect to days to maturity. 
 
3.1.3. Plant Height  

Analysis of variance revealed that variety did exert very significant influence (P<0.0001) on plant height 
(Table 1). Significantly higher plant height (34.67 cm) was obtained at Shewa robit which, however, did not 
statistically different with Black bean (34.33 cm) variety; whereas, significantly lower plant height was obtained at 



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MH 85-1 and Asha (30 cm) which was at parity with MH-97-6 (30.33 cm) and MB 6148-05-12 (30.33 cm) varieties 
(Table 3). This finding was in line with result of Rasul, et al. [11]. 
 

Table-1. Mean square from analysis of variance for performance of mung bean in Phenology and Growth Traits 

SOV DF DF50% DM PH 

Trt 8 55.84*** 41.09*** 11.60*** 
Rep 2 0.48 1.81 0.48 
Error 16 2.3 1.73 0.52 
CV  2.95 1.62 2.27 

Where, ns; not significant at P< 0.05, * significant at P< 0.05; ** significant at P<0.01 and *** significant at P< 0.001 probability level.  SOV: Source of variation, 
DF: Degree of freedom, CV: Coefficient of variance, DF50%: Days to 50% flowering, DM, Days to 90% maturity, PH: Plant height (cm),  
 

Table-2. Mean square from analysis of variance for performance of mung bean in yield and its components 

SOV DF NPP NSP HSW GY 

Trt 8 82.84*** 4.60*** 5.67*** 435386*** 
Rep 2 0.70 0.48 0.78 3141.08 
Error 16 1.03 0.27 0.24 1835.76 
CV  8.13 8.45 7.40 5.62 

Where, ns; not significant at P< 0.05, * significant at P< 0.05; ** significant at P<0.01 and *** significant at P< 0.001 probability level.  SOV: Source of variation, 
DF: Degree of freedom, CV: Coefficient of variance, NPP, Number of pods/plant, NSP, Number of seeds/pod, HSW, Hundred seed weight (g), GY: Grain yield (kg 
ha-1) 
 
3.2. Yield Components  
3.2.1. Number of Pods per Plant  

Number of pods per plant is a key factor for determining the yield performance in leguminous plants. The 
productive capacity of mungbean plant is ultimately considered by the number of pods per plant. Results from the 
analysis of variance, showed that variety had significant influence on number of pods per plant. Significantly 
higher (21.00) pod number per plant was obtained at black bean variety followed by shewa robit (19.67). But 
significantly lower (7.33) number of pods per plant was obtained at MH BR-1 variety (Table 4). Likewise the 
above results, Wedajo [12]; Ahmad, et al. [13] and Rasul, et al. [11] stated that mung bean cultivars had 
significant effect on number of pods plant. 
 
3.2.2. Number of Seed per Pod  

Analysis of variance, Table 2 indicated that the presence of a highly significant difference among the different 
varieties (P<0.001). The mean comparison (Table 4) revealed that, black bean produced considerably higher (8.00) 
seeds per pod followed by shewa robit (7.67) and MB 6173 B-23 (7.67). However, significantly lower (5.00) 
number of seeds per pod was obtained at MH BR-1 and MH-97-6 variety. These results agree with those of 
Ahmad, et al. [13]; Rasul, et al. [11] and Uddin, et al. [14] who reported difference in seeds per pod among the 
cultivars might be due to genetically determined differences.  

 
3.2.3. Hundred Seed Weight  

Mean square of analysis of variance, Table 2 revealed that the existence of significant difference (P<0.001) for 
hundred seed weight due to variation in variety in 2014/15 cropping season. The highest hundred seed weight 
(8.67 g) was obtained from black bean variety; however it was statistically at parity with shewa robit (8.33 g) 
whereas the lowest value (5.00 g) was obtained from MH BR-1 and asha variety. These results were similar to 
those reported by Wedajo [12] and Ahmad, et al. [13] that differences among the 100 grains weight in these 
cultivars might be due to hereditary superiority, growth rate, crop potential of yield, higher nutrients 
translocation, assimilation and dry matter partitioning. 

 
3.2.4. Grain Yield  

Dry matter production and its transformation into economic yield is the vital result of diverse physiological, 
biochemical, phenological and morphological actions taking place in the plant system. There was significant 
difference on grain yield with respect to varietal effect of mung bean crop. Variety exerted very highly significant 
(P<0.001) effect on total yield (Table 2). Considerably higher grain yield (1362.50 kg ha-1) was obtained from 
black bean variety; followed by shewa robit (1225.00 kg ha-1) and MB 6173 B-23 (1032.83 kg ha-1) varieties. On the 
contrary, the lower grain yield value (379.70 kg ha-1, 242.60 kg ha-1) was obtained at asha and MH BR-1 varieties 
respectively (Table 4). The higher yield of variety black bean and shewa robit may due to higher number pods per 
plant (21.00, 19.67) and number seeds per pods (8.00, 7.67) respectively. Significant effect of mung bean genotypes 
on grain yield had been reported by Wedajo [12]; Rasul, et al. [11] and Omid [15]. 

 



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Table-3. Mean performance of mung bean varieties for phenology and growth traits 

Variety DF50% DM PH 

MB 6148-05-12 47.67d 78.33ef 30.33c 

Mong whole 55.00b 84.33ab 31.67b 
Black bean 58.00a 86.00a 34.33a 
Asha 54.00b 83.33bc 30.00c 
MH 85-1 51.00c 81.33cd 30.00c 
MH BR-1 45.00e 75.67g 31.00bc 
MB 6173 B-23 55.00b 84.67ab 34.00a 
Shewa robit 47.33de 76.67fg 34.67a 
MH-97-6 50.33c 80.33de 30.33c 
LSD 2.63 2.27 1.25 
CV 2.95 1.62 2.27 

Where, CV: Coefficient of variance, LSD, Least Significant Difference, DF50%, Days to 50% flowering, DM, Days to 90% maturity, PH: Plant height (cm),  
 

Table-4. Mean performance of mung bean varieties for yield and yield components 

Variety NPP NSP HSW GY 

MB 6148-05-12 12.33c 6.00b 6.67c 815.10d 
Mong whole 10.00d 5.67bc 6.00cd 699.47e 
Black bean 21.00a 8.00a 8.67a 1362.50a 
Asha 9.00de 5.33bc 5.00e 379.70g 
MH 85-1 8.33de 5.33bc 5.67de 528.13f 
MH BR-1 7.33e 5.00c 5.00e 242.60h 
MB 6173 B-23 16.67b 7.67a 7.67b 1032.83c 
Shewa robit 19.67a 7.67a 8.33ab 1225.00b 

MH-97-6 8.33de 5.00c 6.00cd 573.97f 
LSD 1.76 0.90 0.84 74.16 
CV 8.13 8.45 7.40 5.62 

Where, CV: Coefficient of variance, NPP: Number of pods/plant, NSP: Number of seeds/pod, HSW: Hundred seed weight (g), GY: Grain yield (kg ha-1) 
 
3.2.5. Correlation of Characters 

A Pearson correlation analysis was done to assess the association of various agronomic characters of mung 
bean. Both positive and non associations between characters of the component crop have been observed and 
discussed below.  
 

Table-5. Pearson correlation coefficients between characters of mung bean components. 

                    PH              DF             DM            NPP            NSP          HSW          GY 

  PH              1      
  DF             0.29ns         1      
  DM            0.2ns           0.97***       1     
  NPP           0.87***      0.35ns          0.25ns         1      

  NSP           0.84***      0.33ns          0.25ns         0.89***      1     
  HSW          0.82***      0.30ns         0.22ns         0.90***      0.83***        1       
  GY             0.80***      0.38*           0.30ns        0.95***      0.88***        0.93***       1 

Where: *** Correlation is significant at the 0.001 level, * Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level; PH=Plant Height, DF = Days to 50% Flowering, DM = 
Days to 90% maturity, NPP = Number of pods per plant, NSP = Number of seeds per pod, HSW = Hundred seed weight, GY = Grain yield   

 
According to the Pearson correlation analysis result (Table 5) of mung bean both very highly significant 

positive and non significant correlations were observed between all the parameters. Except days to 90% maturity, 
all the parameters affect yield positively. Plant height (r=0.80***), days to flowering (r=0.38*), number of pods per 
plant (r=0.95***), number of seeds per pod (r=0.88***) and hundred seed weight (r=0.93***) were strongly 
correlate positively with grain yield. This shows that these factors were responsible for the production grain yield 
of mung bean. 

In contrast) days to 90% maturity (0.30ns) non significantly correlate with yield, which means these factors 
had negative effect on grain yield. 
 
 
 



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4. CONCLUSION 
 Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) is an essential short duration, self pollinated diploid legume crop with 

high nutritive values and nitrogen fixing ability. It is an eco-friendly food grain leguminous crop of dryland 
agriculture with rich source of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. From this research output, black bean produced 
greatly higher (1362.50 kg ha-1) grain yield followed by shewa robit (1225.00 kg ha-1) whereas significantly lower 
(242.60 kg ha-1) grain yield was obtained at MH BR-1 variety. On the other hand, significantly higher and lower 
days to 90% maturity were found (86.00, 84.67 and 76.67, 75.67 days), at those varieties of black bean, MB 6173 B-
23 and shewa robit, MH BR-1, respectively. This showed that both shewa robit and MH BR-1 matured much 
earlier than other varieties. The study area was characterized by shortage and erratic rainfall, thus earliness is best 
criteria for selection and recommendation of varities in such areas. Therefore, it could be concluded that both black 
bean and shewa robit varieties might be recommended for farmers and growers of mung bean in the study area. 
 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support. 
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. 
Contributors/Acknowledgement: All authors contributed equally to the conception and design of the 
study. We are greatly thanks Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Mehoni Agricultural Research 
Center and the national pulses, oil and fiber crops case team for providing all necessary facilities and support 
during the entire experiment. 

 

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10681-011-0401-6
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