Protein mal-nutrition is widespread among poor of developing and under developed countries. Since animal protein is beyond the reach of this group, their primary protein supply comes from plant based products. Amongst these, pigeonpea or red gram (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) is an important food legume that can be grown under rainfed conditions with least inputs. Pigeonpea is rich in starch, protein, calcium, manganese, crude fiber, fat, trace elements, and minerals. Besides its high nutritional value, pigeonpea is also used as traditional folk medicine in India, China, Philippines and some other nations. Literature on this aspect show that pigeonpea is capable to prevent and cure a number of human ailments such as bronchitis, coughs, pneumonia, respiratory infections, dysentery, menstrual disorders, sores, wounds, abdominal tumors, tooth ache, and diabetes.

Male-sterility has been successfully used for enhancing yield in a number of cereal and vegetable crops. In food legumes, this technology could never be used either due to non-availability of natural outcrossing system, or an efficient male-sterility system or both. Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is a partially cross-pollinated food legume and recent success in breeding a stable male-sterility system has allowed breeders to exploit hybrid vigour for increasing yields. The cytoplasmic-nuclear male-sterility (CMS)-based hybrids have recorded 28.4% yield superiority over local checks in farmersÕ fields. This paper besides summarizing the reports of all the genetic and CMS systems, also discusses the prospects of utilizing these male-sterility systems in commercial hybrid breeding programmes.

ICRISAT scientists, working with Indian programme counterparts, developed the world's first cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility (CMS)-based commercial hybrid in a food legume, the pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. The CMS, in combination with natural outcrossing of the crop, was used to develop viable hybrid breeding technology. Hybrid ICPH 2671 recorded 47% superiority for grain yield over the control variety 'Maruti' in multilocation on-station testing for 4 years. In the on-farm trials conducted in five Indian states, mean yield of this hybrid (1396 kg/ ha) was 46.5% greater than that of the popular cv. 'Maruti' (953 kg/ha). Hybrid ICPH 2671 also exhibited high levels of resistance to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic diseases. The outstanding performance of this hybrid has led to its release for cultivation in India by both a private seed company (as 'Pushkal') and a public sector university (as 'RV ICPH 2671'). Recent developments in hybrid breeding technology and high yield advantages realized in farmers' fields have given hope for a breakthrough in pigeonpea productivity.

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