Network’s summary on ISCB Phase IV "Improvement of pigeonpea for plant type, pod borer resistance and moisture stress tolerance"

The Indo-Swiss collaboration in Biotechnology (ISCB) initiated in Phase IV a pigeon pea network considering the importance of pulses in the food and nutrition security of India. Pulses are grown on rainfed marginal lands with meagre nutrient and pest managements. Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) is the second largest pulse crop and is an important source of dietary proteins in India. India contributes more than 85 per cent to the global pigeon pea production but yield stagnation for decades at about 700 kg/ ha has been the main concern. The major constraints to enhancing pigeon pea productivity are inadequate availability of seeds of improved varieties, and a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. The Gene Bank at NBPGR, New Delhi and ICRISAT, Hyderabad hold over 12,000 pigeon pea accessions, but the potential of these resources has not been adequately exploited in varietal improvement. Apart from breeding for grain yield and early maturity, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses are equally important for yield stability. Two pod borers, Helicoverpa armigera and Maruca vitrata are major pests of pigeon pea causing huge yield losses. Water logging at early growth stage and water deficit at the reproductive stage also result in poor crop establishment and yield losses. Further, the pigeon pea genome sequence and a range of molecular markers are now available but not exploited for pigeon pea improvement. Combining conventional and molecular breeding approaches, as envisaged in the ISCB pigeon pea network, will accelerate the development of much needed modern high-yielding, semi-dwarf, synchronous early maturing pigeon pea varieties. Dwarf varieties will help farmers in easy farm operations including mechanical harvesting while early maturity will make the land available for the second crop. The program also envisages strategies for developing insect resistant pigeon pea.