Genetic variability analysis for yield attributes and phenotypic characterization of TFL1 homologues for growth habit in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh]

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] a versatile food legume, grows mainly in arid and semi-arid regions of the globe. The crop is characterized with distinctive growth habit. An important agronomic trait regulated by mutation in Terminal flower 1 (TFL1) locus and decides the onset of reproductive phase in crop plant. The current experiment designed to identify and characterize the pigeonpea genotypes with variation in TFL1 locus along with other traits, affecting complexity of yield through precise phenotyping, to aid in simplifying the developmental mechanism and puzzle of stagnant productivity in pigeonpea.

For profiling of TFL homologue, phenotyping was done in kharif, 2019 at College Farm, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Gujarat. Sixty four diverse pigeonpea germplasms were screened for growth habit and yield attributing traits. The individuals where shoot apex terminated into reproductive phase was considered as determinate type (DT) and those where main stem continued vegetative growth throughout plant's life was recorded as indeterminate type (IDT).

The experimental findings clearly identify the variants, arises due to mutation in TFL1 locus. Sufficient variability and flexibility has been observed in pigeonpea to breed short duration, photo-insensitive and determinate plant types with superior seed yield to improve the productivity and area of crop. Genotypes like ICPL 87, GT 100 and BP-16-61 could be incorporated in climate-smart breeding programme to attain substantial and sustainable productivity in pigeonpea.