<![CDATA[Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus L.), an underutilized tropical legume, is valued for its nutrient content and anthocyanin-rich purple pods. Genetic improvement is critically needed for superior varieties, yet a fundamental understanding of target trait inheritance, especially pod color in advanced generations, remains limited. This study investigated pod color segregation patterns, gene number, and gene action in F3 and F4 winged bean populations. Using 46 F3 and 79 F4 individuals from a green-podded (PLB 2.3) x purple-podded (MDM 1.2) cross, qualitative data were analyzed using Mendelian ratios and chi-square tests. Results consistently showed a 13 green: 3 purple pod color segregation ratio in both F3 and F4 populations, indicating control by two gene pairs with dominant-recessive epistasis. Chi-square tests confirmed good fit for this model in F3 (X2 =0.06, p=0.8) and F4 (X2=0.40, p=0.5−0.7). This robust pattern confirms inheritance stability; the purple phenotype (aaB_) is expressed only when the inhibitory gene is homozygous recessive ('aa') and the color-forming gene is dominant ('B_'). These findings provide crucial genetic insights, facilitating targeted breeding for superior purple-podded winged bean varieties, and suggest F2 analysis might not be strictly necessary for initial genetic inference of this trait due to the observed consistency in advanced generations.]]>
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