Utilizing the underutilized CWR: Pigeonpea pre-breeding from discovery to delivery

Abstract

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), the sixth most important grain legume crop, is cultivated on 7.02 million ha area with a production of 6.81 million tones and 969 kg ha-1 productivity, mainly in Asia (India and Myanmar) and Eastern and Southern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, and Mozambique). It is an often cross-pollinated diploid (2n = 2x = 22) crop which is a major source for proteins, carbohydrates, B‐group vitamins, and minerals. It is grown for its multiple uses such as food, feed, medicine, fuel, fencing, roofing, basket making, etc. and as soil enricher and soil binder