Transgressive segregation for seed protein in an inter-specific Cajanus cross

Three inter-specific Cajanus crosses were assessed for their intra-population variation for protein content. In the unselected F₇ bulk population of a cross involving a wild species (Cajanus scarabaeoides) and an early maturing cultivar, “Baigani”, the transgressive segregation for both high as well as low protein contents was observed. The high protein (35.6%) transgressive segregant produced 24% more protein than the wild species donor parent (28.7%). Similarly, the low-protein (18.8%) transgressive segregant had 17% less protein than the low-protein parent (22.7%). It is concluded that the parents of this cross carried different sets of dominant and recessive protein-controlling alleles; their complementary and/or additive gene effects produced these transgressive segregants.