Assessment of Genetic Variability in 1129 Accessions of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

A total of 1,129 pigeonpea germplasm lines conserved at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) under Consortium Research Project on Agro Biodiversity (CRP-AB) were evaluated during kharif 2017, 2018 and 2019 for 20 qualitative and quantitative traits for the purpose of genotypic characterization, evaluation and selection of cultivar potentially suitable for growing in Karnataka region. The experiments conducted out at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi in Augmented Block Design. A wide range of variation was observed for 14 qualitative traits. Out of the total 1,129 genotypes 313 were early maturing (<140 days). The genotypes IC245540, IC245558 and IC245559 were earliest in their maturity (106 days). A total of 92 accessions recorded more than 11 g test weight, highest 100-seed weight 21.0 g was observed in IC525757 and highest number of pods per plant (740 pods/plant) was obtained in IC407203. Grain yield per plant was highest in IC527696 (266.67 g) as compared to best check PT-0012. Thus, morphological characterization led to genotype identification for different traits.