ICRISAT's Pigeon pea spread roots in China

Hyderabad, Feb 3 (UNI) The cultivated area of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Pigeonpea varieties has been increased to one lakh hectares during 2006, as against 50 hectares in 1999 in China.

ICRISAT Director General William Dar said the success of pigeon pea in China has shown the ability of ICRISAT scientists to develop varieties that are appropriate for the needs of Chinese farmers.

This collaboration will be further strengthened when the hybrid pigeonpea, developed by ICRISAT, will be commercially launched in China, a release here said.

Dr K B Saxena, ICRISAT's Principal Pigeon pea Breeder, said the partnership between ICRISAT and China has shown very encouraging results and now pigeon pea crop can be seen growing on the roadsides, hill slopes and riverbanks. The pigeon pea plants, especially of the perennial varieties, have a strong root system, which helps hold the soil on sloping hillsides.

At present, efforts are also being made to popularise pigeon pea for human food, especially as green peas. Chinese food technologists have developed a number of snacks, food items, and drinks using dry and green seeds of pigeon pea.

ICRISAT began research on this breeding approach in pigeon pea in 1974. ICRISAT, along with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), released the world's first genetic male-sterility (GMS) based pigeon pea hybrid in 1991. This was followed by the release of five additional GMS-based hybrids.

In the recent years, ICRISAT has made a significant progress in developing efficient CMS (Cytoplasmic-nuclear Male-Sterility) systems, using the cytoplasm of the wild relatives of pigeon pea.

Among these, one CMS system, derived from Cajanus cajanifolius, is being used in developing the new generation of pigeon pea hybrids.

UNI