Pigeonpea Nutrition and Its Improvement

Abstract

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.), known by several vernacular and names such as red gram, tuar, Angola pea. yellow dhal and oil dhal, is one of the major grain legume crops of the tropics and sub-tropics. It is a crop of small holder dryland fmmers because it can grow well under subsistence level of agriculture and provides nutritive food, fodder, and fuel wood. It also improves soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen. India by far is the largest pigeonpea producer it is consumed as decorticated split peas, popularly called as 'dhaL' In other countries, its consumption as whole dty and green vegetable is popular. Its foliage is used as fodder and milling by-products [onn an excellent feed for domestic animals. Pigeonpea seeds contain about 20-22% protein and appreciable amounts of essential amino.acids and minerals. DehuHing and boiling treatments of seeds get rid of the most antinutritional factors as tannins and enzyme inhibitors. Seed storage causes considerable losses in the quality of this legume. The seed protein of pigeonpea has been successfully enhanced by breeding from 20-22% to 28-30%. Such lines also agronomically performed well and have acceptable and color. The high-protein lines were found K. B. Saxena is Scientist (Breeding») R. V. Kumar is Scientific Officer (Breeding), and P. V. Rao Scientific Oft1cer

Grain protein estimation and SDS-PAGE profilingof six important arid legumes

“…Inter-varietal differences in protein content were also observed among the six arid legumes (Table 2). Environment has a significant influence on the protein content of grain legumes (Oluwatosin, 1997;Saxena et al, 2002;Frimpong et al, 2009). Intra-varietal and intra-plant variability in grain protein due to fluctuating environment was also observed (Gueguen and Barbot, 1988;Crochemore et al, 1994;Atta et al, 2004).…”

New sources of resistance to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic disease in a mini-core collection of pigeonpea germplasm

“…India is a major pigeonpea producer in the world with a contribution of 75-80 per cent. Pigeonpea is a major source of protein; enriches soil; provides fodder and fuel wood; and it is beneficial for arresting soil erosion (Ae et al 1990;Saxena et al 2002). Pigeonpea crop has a direct bearing on the economic and financial well-being and on the nutritional status of the subsistence farmers in the subcontinent as it is a low-input, rainfed crop and provides economic returns from each and every part of the plant.…”

Genetic Diversity Assessment in Pigeonpea Cultivars Using Microsatellite (SSR) Markers

“…is one of the important grain legumes of India, which plays an important role in food security, balanced diet and alleviation of poverty . It contains 22-24 percent protein, which is rich in essential amino acids and abundant in minerals, vitamins, iodine and iron (Saxena, 2002).…”