RA 00015.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

P i g e o n p e a
Previous reports have highlighted the. broad
objectives of the pigeonpea improvement program,
and have listed our observations on the
effects of photoperiod response, rainfall distribution,
and climatic variations, all of which
contribute to strong local adaptation of cultivars.
At ICRISAT Center, we are continuing
our emphasis on studies of physiology of the
plant, the biology of insect pests and diseases and
the plant's reactions to these, and development
of pools of genetic diversity, all of which have not
only local but broad application.
Our selection for high-yielding locally adapted
types at ICRISAT Center and the cropping
systems under study may have limited application
elsewhere, but are important to the region
represented by this location. In 1976 we added a
location where early maturity types are adapted
and another location where very late types are
best. We are emphasizing the development of
breeding populations for use by breeders in those
regions of adaptation.
In the following paragraphs we have summarized
what we consider to be the important
developments during the year; where appropriate
we have presented the results accumulated
to date.
Germplasm Collection and
Evaluation
Germplasm resources were increased by 263
accessions collected from five states in India. We
are extremely short of germplasm from Africa
(Table 25), and 120 samples collected in eastern
Kenya are still to be cleared by Plant Quarantine
officials.
Efforts to further describe the germplasm
during the year were disappointing. Heavy
August rains on a poorly drained field contributed
to unsatisfactory survival and growth of
2981 accessions planted for recording their
morpho-agronomic traits. A set of 1000 lines
were planted at Kanpur, U.P.; Kathalagere,
Karnataka; and ICRISAT Center for determining
environmental effects on growth and protein
content. With generally unfavorable weather,
only 280 accessions produced seed at all three
locations. These samples have been sent to the
Canadian Grain Commission, Manitoba, for
rapid protein determination.
A 4-year experiment is in progress to compare
perennial growth habit, yield, and regrowth
potential of 45 accessions (5 early, 20 medium,
and 20 late). Three of the six replicates were
ratooned. Observations of the first year's planting
indicate that early types behave as annuals.
Table 25. Countries of origin of pigeonpea germplasm
at ICRISAT Center.
Country
Entries
Australia 14
Bangladesh
Brazil
18
6
Burma 27
Colombia 5
Dominican Republic
6
Ghana
1
Guyana
4
India
4795
Indonesia 1
Jamaica 13
Madagascar
1
Mexico
2
Nepal
3
Nigeria
19
Pakistan 4
Peru 5
Puerto Rico 40
Senegal
Sri Lanka
10
55
Thailand 2
Trinidad 38
USA 2
Unknown 360
Total 5431
77