Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat

Pigeonpea Breeding and Seed Systems in
India
KB Saxena, MG Mula ( ICRISAT-Patancheru, India); AN Patil( PDKV-Akola, Maharashtra, India); CV
Sameer Kumar ( ANGRAU, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India)
Breeding
Summary
The activities for pigeonpea were carried out in Maharashtra (Akola and Washim districts) and Andrha
Pradesh (Ranga Reddy district) with active participation of the KrishiVigyan Kendra (KVK) Durgapur
taluk, Murtizapur and Karda taluk Risod (Maharashtra) and Agricultural Research Station (ARS) of
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Andhra Pradesh (AP). The villages were
selected in consultation with program coordinators. Progressive farmers from the selected villages
were identified for conducting of mother and baby trials of farmers participatory varietal selection
trials (PVS). Preferred traits of pigeonpea were selected with emphasis on wilt resistant, medium bold
size, red-seeded and suitability of variety for intercropping with crops like soybean, cotton, mung and
urd beans. The preference of the improved varieties varied from village to village, depending on soil
type, cropping system and existing disease problem (wilt, sterility mosaic disease). In project villages
(Maharashtra), the demand of PKV-TARA, BSMR-736, BDN-708 and Vipula was more as compared to
other varieties. ICPH 2671, although having higher yield, was relatively less preferred by farmers due
to the dark color of the seed. In AP, the farmers preferred varieties due to their resistance to wilt/sterility
mosaic diseases and higher yields such as Asha, PRG 158 and ICPH 2671.
PVS trials
During the three year period of the project, a total of 10 mother trials and 107 baby trials were
conducted. In Maharashtra, six mother trials and 91 baby trials were implemented in 15 villages of
Akola and Washim districts, while in AP, 16 baby trials and four mother trials were conducted in 16
villages of Ranga Reddy and Mahaboobnagar districts. Varieties tested were Asha, Maruti, Lakshmi,
LRG 41, PRG 158 and ICPH-2671 with NallaKandi as local check for AP while in Maharashtra, PKV
TrombayTur, AKT-8811, ICPH 2671, BSMR-853, BDN-708, and Vipula.
The overall assessment of the mother and baby trials in Maharashtra revealed that ICPH 2671 (hybrid)
performed best with yield of 2.8 MT per ha, followed by PKV TrombayTur (1.9-2.0 MT per ha), BDN
708 (1.6-1.8 MT per ha), AKT 8811 and Vipula (1.2-1.5 MT per ha) and BSMR 853 (1.3-1.4 MT per ha).
In AP, Asha, ICPH 2671 were the preferred varieties.
Mother trials
In Maharashtra, the mother trials were conducted under an intercropping system in rain-fed conditions.
A total of six trials (2 in each district and 1 trial at each of the KVK) were conducted. Out of the five
locations Maruti ranked first in four villages as preference given by the farmers at the time of field
days/on-farm training. In village Shelu-khadase PKV Tara variety is preferred. Moreover, the overall
assessment shows that PKV Tara/Vipula stand second in preference (Table 9-1). In AP, Kodangal and
Basheerabad farmers preferred Asha and ICPH 2671 among the other varieties (Table 9-2).
Progress of Phase 1
191