Identification of putative hybrids between pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and C. cajanifolius using· seed protein markers

Abstract

Pigeon pea [C. cajan (L.) Millsp.] is an important grain legume crop in the semi-arid tropics. Breeding tools employed for genetic improvement in this crop are limited to selection and intervarietal hybridization. Productivity in pigeon pea is constrained mainly by biotic and abiotic stresses. C. cajanifolius (Haines) Van der Maesen, the putative progenitor of pigeon pea, can be used as a potential donor for genes conferring resistance to bruchid, pod borer and tolerance to drought besides hardiness, high protein content with minimum protease inhibitors and high methionine content [see [1], for review]. These genes could be effectively introgressed into pigeon pea genotypes by backcross breeding using C. cajanifolius as the male parent, as crosses in reciprocal combination were not successful [2]. Use of molecular markers unique to C. cajanifolius could be useful for verification of hybridity in such breeding programmes.