Development of hybrids: Approach for breaking the yield plateau in pigeonpea (Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Abstract

With more than 28 years’ experience in pulses research, Dr I P Singh is a pioneer in pigeonpea research, development and research coordination in the country. He started his research career as a plant breeder in ICAR-IIPR in 1992 and joined as Project Coordinator, AICRP-Pigeonpea in 2013 and is presently leading the All India Coordinated research Project on Pigeonpea. Dr Singh has to his credit four varieties and two hybrids of pigeonpea. He has carried out a lot of work in the area of resistance breeding and heterosis breeding in pigeonpea and registered several donors for resistance to Fusarium wilt, sterility mosaic disease and Phytophthora stem blight. He has developed and registered six CGMS lines of pigeonpea which are being utilized in the development of hybrids. He has led the hybrid pigeonpea project funded by DAC under ISOPOM and NFSM. As a project coordinator he has launched the idea of development of extra short duration and mid early duration varieties of pigeonpea. Now the multi location trials are being conducted for both maturity groups under AICRP on pigeonpea which has resulted in development of first extra short duration pigeonpea variety Pusa Arhar 16 which matures in 120 days. Development of mid early breeding materials and their evaluation has resulted in the development of high yielding mid early varieties like BDN 716, GRG 81, BRG 3 GRG 152, WRGE 93, KRG 33 and WRGE 121. At present his main focus is on development of extra short and short duration varieties and hybrids of pigeonpea.