Pigeonpea improvement: An amalgam of breeding and genomic research

In the past five decades, constant research has been directed towards yield improvement in pigeonpea resulting in the deployment of several commercially acceptable cultivars in India. Though, the genesis of hybrid technology, the biggest breakthrough, enigma of stagnant productivity still remains unsolved. To sort this productivity disparity, genomic research along with conventional breeding was successfully initiated at ICRISAT. It endowed ample genomic resource providing insight in the pigeonpea genome combating production constraints in a precise and speedy manner. The availability of the draft genome sequence with a large‐scale marker resource, oriented the research towards trait mapping for flowering time, determinacy, fertility restoration, yield attributing traits and photo‐insensitivity. Defined core and mini‐core collection, still eased the pigeonpea breeding being accessible for existing genetic diversity and developing stress resistance. Modern genomic tools like next‐generation sequencing, genome‐wide selection helping in the appraisal of selection efficiency is leading towards next‐generation breeding, an awaited milestone in pigeonpea genetic enhancement. This paper emphasizes the ongoing genetic improvement in pigeonpea with an amalgam of conventional breeding as well as genomic research.     

Inheritance and molecular mapping of restorer‐of‐fertility (Rf) gene in A2 hybrid system in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Inheritance of fertility restorer gene in pigeonpea was studied using F₂ and BC₁F₁ populations derived from cross AL103A × IC245273. It was found to be controlled by single dominant gene. Out of 228 SSR primer pairs, 33 primer pairs showed parental polymorphism, while four primers were found polymorphic in bulk segregant analysis (BSA). These four primers viz., CcM 1615, CcM 0710, CcM 0765 and CcM 1522 were used for genotyping of F₂ population and were found to be placed at 3.1, 5.1, 28.1 and 45.8 cM, respectively. Two of them, CcM 1615 and CcM 0710, evinced clear and unambiguous bands for fertility restoration in F₂ population. The Rf gene was mapped on linkage group 6 between the SSR markers CcM 1615 and CcM 0710 with the distances of 3.1 and 5.1 cM, respectively. The accuracy of the CcM 1615 was validated in 18 restorers and six maintainer lines. The marker CcM 1615 amplified in majority of male restorer lines with a selection accuracy of 91.66%.     

木豆叶提取液膜分离纯化研究

在室温下采用微滤-超滤-纳滤多级膜分离纯化木豆叶提取液,分析木豆叶提取液主要有效成分在膜处理前后的保留情况。结果表明,微滤能截留提取液中15.78%的黄酮类物质,超滤能截留提取液中62.52%的黄酮类物质,而纳滤能截留提取液中97.92%的黄酮类物质,溶剂除去率达到了50%,木豆叶提取物中黄酮纯度可达50.13%。超滤浓缩液中牡荆苷含量可达0.069mg·g~(-1)(HPLC),异牡荆苷含量为4.31mg·g~(-1)(HPLC)。经过膜处理,显著提高了木豆叶提取液的分离效率,达到了较好的高效浓缩和节能效果。     

不同整地方法对木豆植株生长及结实的影响

对印度引进的木豆晚熟品种ICP70 35 ,在怒江六库进行了不同整地方法的造林试验。试验结果表明 :木豆的单株产量以全垦整地方法为最高达 0 0 6 4kg/株 ,打塘整地方法最低为 0 0 38kg/株。通过投入与产出的经济效益分析 ,得出木豆单位面积的经济效益以全垦整地最高为 3773 2 0元 /hm2 ,种植沟整地次之为 2 932 6 0元 /hm2 ,打塘整地最低为 1971 90元 /hm2 。因此 ,在坡度较平缓、土层深厚的地块 ,宜采用全垦整地方法种植木豆 ;在坡度较大的地带 ,为最大程度地减少水土流失 ,宜采用打塘整地方法种植木豆。     

A study of the potential of hedgerow intercropping in semi-arid India using a two-way systematic design

The potential of hedgerow intecrropping with Leucaena leucocephala was explored on vertic Inceptisols over 4 years at ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India. The study was conducted using a systematic layout involving different alley widths ranging from 1.35 to 4.95 m and with varying distances between hedge and crops. The alleys were cropped with alternate rows of sorghum and pigeonpea. Hedges composed double Leucaena hedgerows 60 cm apart were periodically harvested for fodder. Sole crops of all components and a sorghum/pigeonpea intercrop were included in all four replications of the study.Starting in the second year, Leucaena was progressively more competitive to annual crops, causing substantial yield reduction. Competition (primarily for moisture) was most severe in narrow alleys and was greatest on pigeonpea.The growth of Leucaena was not sufficient to compensate for reduced crop yields. Land equivalent ratios (LERs) calculated on the basis of grain yield of crops and Leucaena fodder yields showed that hedgerow intercropping (HI) was advantageous over sole crops only during the first two years using wide alleys, but disadvantegeous in the last two years. LERs calculated on the basis of total dry matter indicated only a small advantage for HI (13–17 percent) over sole crops in wider (>4 m) alleys. Average returns per year from HI exceeded those of the most productive annual crop system (sorghum/pigeonpea intercropping) by 8 percent in 4.05 m alleys, and by 16 percent in 4.95 m alleys. Fodder production during the dry season was 40 percent of the annual total in these alley widths. Thus hedgerow intercropping at 4–5 m alley width is not very attractive for farmers in semi-arid India, which has 600–700 mm of annual rainfall. There is a need to examine the potential of HI in wider alleys. The merits and limitations of the systematic design are discussed.     

The Influence of Genotype–Environment Interaction on the Grain Yields of 10 Pigeonpea Cultivars Grown in Kenya

To study the importance of the effects of genotype–environment interactions on the yield of pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.), 10 early-maturing genotypes were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications in a total of seven environments spread over five regions of Kenya between 1987 and 1988. Results indicated the presence of a substantial genotype–environment interaction effect on grain yield. The observed significant genotype–environment interaction effect is discussed in relation to its importance in pigeonpea grain yield evaluation studies. It is noted that the best genotype in one environment is not always so in other environments. Results from regression analysis indicated that this method of analysis is appropriate for describing the response of pigeonpea genotypes grown in a number of locations. Analysis of variance showed significant additive and multiplicative genotype–environment interaction effects. Only the first interaction principal component axis (IPCA) was found to be important in describing the multiplicative interaction effects. The additive main effects and multiplicative effects (AMMI) model allowed the partitioning of interaction variance into agronomically important sources (genotype groups), and the specific genotype × environment patterns that are the basis of these sources of variance were examined.     

Effects of Population on Physiological Growth Parameters of Pigeonpea Genotypes in Sole and Intercropped Stand with Sorghum CO 22

A field experiment was conducted during khariff 1984 in sandy clay loam soil under irrigated condition at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, with a view (i) to find out the possibility of introducing short duration dwarf variety of sorghum CO 22 as an intercrop with pigeonpea genotypes, (ii) to study the effect of different plant population levels and intercropping of sorghum CO 22 on pigeonpea genotypes, and (iii) to find out compatible pigeonpea genotypes and plant population level for pigeonpea based intercropping system with sorghum CO 22.
It was observed that increased plant density significantly increased the dry matter production, leaf area index (LAI) and crop growth rate (CGR) during early stages and reduced the net assimilation rate (NAR), relative growth rate (RGR) and CCR during later part of the growth. Intercropping of sorghum CO 22 significantly reduced the dry matter production LAI, CGR, NAR and RGR. Plants in the intercropped stands recorded higher CGR, NAR and RGR during later part of the growth. Among pigeonpea genotypes CO 5 was much affected due to intercropping with sorghum CO 22.     

Production of hybrids between Cajanus acutifolius and C. cajan

There are many wild species of pigeonpea which are endemic to Australia. These wild species are cross incompatible with cultivated species of Indian origin. Cajanus acutifolius is one such species which does not easily cross with cultivated pigeonpea. Interspecific pollinations lead to hybrid seeds which were semi-shrivelled. Very few seeds germinated to give rise to F1 plants. Backcrossing the hybrid plants to C. cajan, the male parent, gave rise to aborting seeds which did not germinate in vivo hence BC1 plants are obtained after saving the aborting embryos in vitro. BC₁ plants showed normal meiotic pairing, but had low pollen fertility. The reasons for embryo abortion and low pollen fertility in spite of normal meiosis could be due to the effect of wild species cytoplasm. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Possibility of genetic improvement of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.)Millsp.) utilizing wild gene sources

Summary Various wild relatives of pigeonpea,Cajanus cajan, namely some species ofAtylosia andRhynchosia, possess desirable characteristics that could be utilized for effecting genetic improvement of this crop. In total 73 cross combinations among two cultivars ofC. cajan and one accession each of eightAtylosia species and one ofRhynchosia were attempted. Twelve hybrids were obtained. Seven of these were analysed for F₁ fertility and their utility for agronomic improvement of theC. cajan. Fertility behaviour of the different F₁ hybrids varied and indicated that potential of gene transfer between the two genera,Atylosia andCajanus, was as good as within the genusAtylosia. From F₂ and F₃ families ofC. cajan × A. scarabaeoides andC. cajan × A. albicans, plants were selected with greater physiological efficiency and agronomic superiority. The prospects of transferring pod borer resistance and higher seed protein content from someAtylosia species to pigeonpea are discussed.     

Production and characterization of hybrids between Cajanus cajan × C. reticulatus var. grandifolius

Cajanus reticulatus var. grandifolius, endemic to Australia and a wild relative of the cultivated species, C. cajan, was successfully crossed with the latter as the female parent. The major wild species characters such as persistent stipules, long pod hairs, pod shattering, brown seeds with grey speckles, and presence of seed strophiole were dominant in the hybrid. For growth and branching habit, and leaflet, flower, pod, and seed size, the hybrid was intermediate between the parents. The meiotic cells of the hybrid were found to have quadrivalents, trivalents, univalents,and showed reduced chromosome pairing as revealed by the increased number of rod bivalents per cell at metaphase-I, and stickiness and precocious movement of chromosomes to poles in the second division. In comparison to the parents, the hybrid had fewer pods and seeds. However,these anomalies in the interspecific hybrid are not significant enough to preclude the gene transfer from C. reticulatus to the cultivated species through a sexual route. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.