Assessment of morphological variation for different qualitative characters in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] germplasm

Abstract

The present study was conducted at the Birsa Agricultural University, Research Farm (Dryland Section), Kanke, Ranchi during Kharif season 2016-17 utilizing 104 genotypes of pigeonpea along with 4 checks viz., ASHA, BA 1, BAHAR and ICPB 2078 evaluated in a augmented block design II with 4 blocks having spacing 1.5 m × 20 cm. Observation were recorded from each plants and checks for thirteen qualitative characters viz., plant branching pattern, plant growth habit, flower colour, flower streaks, stem colour, pod colour, pod pubescence, pod surface stickiness, pod waxiness, pod constriction, seed shape, seed colour and seed colour pattern. Branching pattern was found to be either erect, semispreading or spreading while growth habit was either determinate or indeterminate. The characters like flower streaks, pod pubescence, pod stickiness and pod waxiness was categorized on the basis of presence or absence of the following characters. Stem colour was found either green or purple while flower colour was either yellow or purple. For pod colour five different categories were observed namely green, green with brown streaks, green with purple streaks, purple and dark purple. Hence the characterization of several qualitative traits will help in selection of suitable parent in formulating sound breeding programme.