Study of heterosis, combining ability, stability and quality parameters in CGMS- based pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) millsp.] hybrids

The present investigations were carried out to derive information on heterosis, combining ability, stability and some quality parameters in a series of CGMS-based pigeonpea hybrids. Also, it was aimed to study the genetics of fertility restoration and stability of the male-sterile lines of pigeonpea. A line x tester mating design was used to develop F1 hybrids using three CGMS lines ICPA 2043, ICPA 2047 and ICPA 2092 developed at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru (Andhra Pradesh). All three A-lines were derived from Cajanus cajanifolius (A4) cytoplasm. The testers comprised of 13 inbred lines obtained from ICRISAT; 10 lines from Agricultural Research Station, Badnapur, M.A.U., Parbhani, five lines from MPKV Rahuri; and six lines from Pulses Research Unit, PDKV, Akola. All the materials were evaluated at Patancheru, Parbhani, Latur and Badnapur. All the cross combinations were made during kharif 2008 in a line × tester mating design. The hybrids and parents were evaluated in α-lattice design with two replications. Observations were recorded on five competitive plants on days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of primary branches plant-1, number of secondary branches plant-1, total number of pods plant-1, seeds pod-1, pod weight (g), 100.......

First information on heterotic groups in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

To break the decades-old yield barrier in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] a hybrid breeding technology was successfully developed and the first two hybrids were recently released in India. In order to produce heterotic hybrid combinations, the first logical step is the identification and selection of genetically diverse parents with favorable alleles. In this context, the concept of classifying hybrid parents into different heterotic groups was developed and successfully used in maize and later adopted in other crops. Since hybrid technology in pigeonpea is new, the authors have made the first attempt to identify heterotic groups using SCA effects of 102 crosses generated from line × tester mating and evaluated them at four locations. Based on the performance of hybrids in terms of SCA effects, seven heterotic groups were constituted. Besides this, a scheme to use this information in breeding high yielding hybrids with specific or wide adaptation is also discussed herein. Genetic diversity between lines and tester showed positive association with the heterotic pools generated on the basis of SCA

Stability analysis for seed yield and yield attributing traits in fennel (Foeniculum vulguare mill.)

Study was carried to evaluate phenotypic stability of 13 genotypes of fennel for seed yield and yield attributing traits. Out of 13 genotypes, three were checks (RF 205, RF 201 and local fennel) grown in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications in each year. The significant genotypic differences were observed for all the characters suggesting differential responses of genotypes to the environmental changes. The results showed that among 13 genotypes RF 205 and Local fennel were found stable for seed yield/ plant, FNL 69 for days to flower, FNL 70 and RF 101 for primary branches/ plant, FNL 74 for umbels/ umbellet and FNL 71 for umbels/ plant. The results revealed that some reliable predictions about G x E interaction as well as its unpredictable components contributed significantly in determining the stability of genotypes. The wider stability recorded by RF 205, RF 201 and local fennel during all the three years which will be useful for development of high yielding varieties of fennel

Genetic Enhancement of Seed Proteins in Pigeonpea – Methodologies, Accomplishments, and Opportunities

The food and nutritional security in India is assuming alarming situation as the protein availability in the decade ending 2009 has reduced from the recommended 46 g/head/day to < 25 g. This is leading a wide spread mal-nutrition among children and women. In view of continuing high population growth, this problem will assume even greater concerns in time to come. In the present paper the research work conducted at ICRISAT to breed new high-yielding high-protein lines has been summarized.The newly bred pigeonpea lines have protein between 28-30% and yield as good as cultivars, an estimate on protein yield showed that the cultivation of high protein lines in one hectare will yield an additional 100,000 g protein for the farming families living under subsistence level

Future Smart Crops for paddy fallow agri-food systems in Southeast Asia

Food security, as defined by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, is the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Over the coming decades, a changing climate, growing global population, increasing incomes, changes in food choices, rising food prices, and environmental stressors, such as increased water scarcity and land degradation, will have significant yet uncertain impacts on food security. There are different aspects having direct links to meeting food security at the global level, including globalization of markets..

Nitrogen response of sweet sorghum genotypes during rainy season

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is a smart biofuel crop, which can be grown under tropical rainfed conditions without sacrificing food and fodder security. Three sweet sorghum cultivars (viz. ICSA 52 SPV 1411, CSH 22 SS and ICSV 93046) were grown under six nitrogen levels (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 kg ha–1) on Vertisols during two rainy (kharif) seasons at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. The results from two-year trial indicated that out of three sweet sorghum cultivars evaluated, sweet sorghum hybrid CSH 22 SS produced highest green stalk (46.90 t ha–1) and ethanol yield (1940 l ha–1) compared to other cultivars. The three cultivars responded well to applied N doses up to 150 kg ha–1, however, application of N beyond 90 kg ha–1 did not result in any significant increase in grain yield and economic returns. Net economic returns of Rs 32,898 ha–1 (US$ 601.21 ha–1) were significantly higher with 90 kg N ha–1 application as compared to other levels of fertilization. It is concluded that for obtaining the highest green stalk yield, ethanol yield and thereby maximum economic returns, sweet sorghum cultivar, viz. CSH 22 SS should be fertilized with 90 kg N ha–1

Stability of cytoplasmic male-sterile lines in pigeonpea under different month temperature

The three male-sterile lines 'ICPA2043', 'ICPA2047' and 'ICPA2092' derived from Cajanus cajanifolius (A„) cytoplasm were sown in insect proof selfing cage at Marathwada Krishi Vidhypeeth, Parbhani. The observations were recorded from initiation of flowering up to maturity at the interval of 15 days starting from 25'" October 2009 to 15'" March 2010 for male sterility and fertility. The study of stability of male-sterile lines under different month temperature revealed that the malesterility was ranged from 84 to 100 % in 'ICPA2043', from 94 to 100 % in 'ICPA2047' and from 93 to 100 % in 'ICPA 2092'. All the three male-sterile lines derived from A, cytoplasm exhibited stability through out the crop season without any effect of increase or decrease in temperature, indicating male-sterility in A4 cytoplasm was independent of environment condition

Overview of hybrid pigeonpea seed production technology and its on-farm validation

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is known for its high protein grains and it occupies an important place in subsistence agriculture of tropics and sub-tropics. The major constraint of the crop has been its low productivity. The recent emergence of hybrid technology in this crop has provided a platform for breaking its decades-old low yield plateau. In the last four years three CMS-based pigeonpea hybrids with 30-50% on-farm yield advantage were released in India. To increase the national pigeonpea production, now efforts are being made to take this technology to the door steps of farmers in a big way. To achieve this, an easy and economically viable seed production technology was successfully developed. This paper, besides describing the salient features of this technology, discusses results of its on-farm seed production program. On average, hybrid yields of over 1000 kg/ha were recorded with a seed-to-seed ratio of 1: 200. In the last two seasons the adoption of hybrid technology has shown very positive response from the cultivators with its planted area stands beyond 150,000 ha mark in 2015

Study of inheritance of fertility restoration in pigeonpea lines derived from Cajanus cajanifolius

In this study, single crosses involving four CMS lines and three known fertility restorers were studied to determine the genetics of fertility restoration in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.). The F1 plants of all the four hybrids were selfed to produce F2 seed and simultaneously crossed to their corresponding A lines to produce BC1F1 seeds during 2007. The parents, F1, F2 and BC1F1 populations were planted in 2008 rainy season at the Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, India. The interaction of dominant nuclear genes of ICP 2766 with ICPA 2092 produced 100% fertile F1 plant and showed complete dominance for fertility restoration. The restorer ICP 2766 when crossed with ICPA 2092 showed monogenic inheritance (3 : 1), while ICP 2766 crossed with ICPA 2043 revealed digenic inheritance (15 : 1) of fertility restoration. In a cross between ICP 2766 and ICPA 2043, dominant gene of fertility restoration at either of two loci masked the expression of male-sterile recessive alleles at two loci in such a way that it modified normal dihybrid ratio into 15 : 1 ratio and produced duplicate gene interaction

Character association and path analysis of yield component traits and late Llaf spot disease traits in groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.)

High estimates of PCV, GCV, heritability (broad sense) and genetic advance as percentage of mean (GAM) were observed for late leaf spot disease severity, reducing sugar, kernel yield per plant and pod yield per plant. It indicates the role of additive gene action and hence the usefulness of phenotypic selection for bringing possible improvement. Pod yield showed positive significant association with days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, kernel yield, test weight and oil content. The path analysis revealed that high positive direct effect of kernel yield exerted on pod yield as well as oil content, strong mature kernel, days to 50 per cent flowering, test weight, days to maturity, and non reducing sugar through kernel yield. Therefore, it would be rewarding to lay due emphasis on the selection of these characters for rapid improvement in pod yiel