Genetics of waterlogging tolerance in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Abstract

Pigeonpea is an important pulse crop in south Asia especially in India, eastern and southern Africa and the Caribbean regions. In some parts of India especially in north eastern Uttar Pradesh, heavy rainfall, results in temporary waterlogging or complete flooding of fields particularly those of high water holding capacity soils, such as vertisols and Indo-Gangetic Alluvials soils [1]. In some of these regions, rainfall event can be very intensive resulting in temporary flooding of the fields. The risk of crop failure or yield reduction due to waterlogging is quite acute in extra early and early duration varieties because they have less time to recover from the stress as compared to medium / long duration cultivars [2]. The present investigation is the first attempt to report the genetical control of waterlogging tolerance in pigeonpea.