50-Years of hybrid pigeonpea research and development: The gains and hiccups

Saxena, K B and Choudhary, A K and Dalvi, V A and Saxena, R K and Kumar, R V and Chauhan, Y S and Srivastava, R K and Sameer Kumar, C V and Hingane, A J and Gangashetty, P I and Sultana, R and Srivastava, N (2025) 50-Years of hybrid pigeonpea research and development: The gains and hiccups. Journal of Food Legumes, 38 (2). pp. 163-178. ISSN 0970-6380

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Abstract

To smash the low-yield plateau in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], a hybrid breeding programme was launched in 1974. Now 50 years of its research and development have been completed and this manuscript takes stock of its accomplishments, hiccups, present status, and future plans. This programme got wings when pigeonpea breeders successfully bred cytoplasmic nuclear male sterility (CMS) systems, and following this, six hybrids with 30- 50% standard heterosis were released. To realize the true value of hybrids and commercialize them, a strong seed quality control system is necessary. Traditionally, the genetic truthfulness of hybrid seeds is assessed through a standard “Grow-out Test (GoT)”. This involves sowing the freshly harvested hybrid seeds and assessing their progenies for a dominant quality determining phenotypic marker. Pigeonpea, being a short-day species, its plants flower only when the day length is around 10-11 h. Since the pigeonpea crop is harvested under increasing photo-periods, the sowing of hybrid seeds, soon after the harvest will not produce flowers under the prevailing long summer days and this will not allow the required assessment of their progenies. Due to this sole reason, the GoT could not be applied to the released photo-sensitive hybrids. This leaves breeders with no option except to look for some alternative seed quality control system. In this context, the application of molecular markers to discriminate between true hybrids and off-types appeared to be the right way. At present molecular marker-based quality testing kits are available to assist seed producers in controlling the purity of hybrid seeds. We believe that in future a follow-up hybrid promotional programme with new technologies would help in breaking the low-yield plateau and enhance the national pigeonpea production.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Global Research Program - Accelerated Crop Improvement
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cajanus cajan, Fertility restorer, Heterosis, Male sterile, Out-crossing, Technology transfer, Wild relatives
Subjects:	Others > Plant Breeding Mandate crops > Pigeonpea Others > Genetics and Genomics
Depositing User:	Mr Nagaraju T
Date Deposited:	18 Feb 2026 04:45
Last Modified:	18 Feb 2026 04:45
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13482
Official URL:	https://era.dpi.qld.gov.au/id/eprint/15166/
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	Authors of the manuscript would like to acknowledge the contributions of (Late) Drs JM Green, D Sharma, LJ Reddy, BVS Reddy and L Singh in the research and development of GMS-based hybrid breeding technology. The contribution of Dr RP Ariyanayagam, Dr PP Zaveri and Dr AN Rao, the former Pigeonpea Breeders, is also acknowledged for their significant inputs in the initial research on breeding CMS lines.
Links:	Google Scholar

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