Inheritance of pod setting under low temperature in pigeonpea

Six basic populations (P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, B₁ and B₂) of 12 crosses involving four susceptible (MAL 17, NDA-1, BHU 96-13-3 and BHU 96-21-4) and three tolerant (MAL 19, NDA 99-1 and NDA 49-6) genotypes were analyzed to observe the inheritance of pod setting under low temperature in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) millsp]. All the F₁ s bore pods even under low temperature as was evident in tolerant parents indicating the dominancy of pod setting over susceptibility. The F₂ segregation ratio of 3:1 (tolerant: susceptible) indicated that pod setting is governed by single dominant gene. The observations of segregation pattern of B₁ (F₁ × tolerant parents) further confirmed the F₂ ratio since all the plants bore pods under low temperature. Similarly B₂ (F₁ × susceptible parents) also exhibited 1:1 (tolerant: susceptible) segregation further confirmed the F₂ ratio.