Hybrid seed production system in Pigeonpea

Abstract

Pigeonpea(Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is globally cultivated on 5.25m ha land with an average production of 3.2m tonnes. It is grown mainly in semi-arid regions of Asia and Africa. The yield levels of pigeonpea over the past few decades have remained low and unchanged at about 600-700kg ha-1. Therefore to meet the demand of this pulse, there is a need enhance its production. To achieve this objective concerted efforts are being made to exploit the natural out-crossing of this crop and develop high-yielding commercial hybrids. Recently, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics(ICRISAT) has developed an excellent cytoplasmic-nuclear male-sterility(CMS) and its fertility restoring systems in pigeonpea and the experimental hybrid have demonstrated high yield advantages