Quantification of genetic variability and stable genotype selection over the years in the germplasm of critically endangered Prishanparni (Uraria picta Desv.)

Prishanparni ( Uraria picta Desv.), a critically endangered annual shrub belonging to the family ‘Papillionaceae’. It is widely distributed throughout India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Tropical Africa, Malay Islands, and the Philippines. The consistent performances of U. picta accessions based on ten economic traits studied were identified as P-12, P-16, P-21, P-22, P-31, P-47, and P-48. These accessions could be used for commercial cultivation in northern Indian plains. Among the total twenty-three studied accessions P-50, P-21, P-48, and P-47 were found superior for rhoifolin content in their aerial as well as root part, which may have various therapeutic potentials used in traditional and modern systems of medicines. These accessions can be exploited for commercial cultivation or in a hybridization program for further crop improvement. Wide range cultivation of the selected accessions in the Indo-Gangetic plains will fit in the existing cropping systems of this region, resulting in comparatively better supplementation of herb to the pharmaceutical and herbal drug industries and reducing the pressure on the wild populations.