Pigeonpea improvement

Phase I of Project 8201 was completed on 30 November 1985, and in September 1985 a review team recommended a second 3-year program on pigeonpea improvement. This second phase now incorporates the recommendations of the review. It will continue the collaborative research on pigeonpea improvement in Indonesia, Fiji, Thailand and Australia, and the close collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). In addition collaborative research will be extended to the All India Coordinated Pulse Improvement Project.

Phase I demonstrated that pigeonpea has potential applications in Indonesia, Fiji and Thailand. This extension will address the problems that remain to be solved, and will expand to include research in India, where pigeonpea is an important crop, occupying 2 million ha. In the past both production and research have been dominated by long-season, photoperiod-sensitive plant types, but the interest in new short season pigeonpeas is growing.

In Fiji, research to determine the factors causing flower drop and subsequent poor pod retention in some genotypes will continue. The identification of germplasm resistant to stem canker caused by Botryosphaeria xanthocephala, the mode of inheritance of this disease and incorporation of resistance into adapted genotypes will be high priority research areas. Aspects of management of the crop, and of its adaptation and productivity on acid low-fertility soils with high aluminium saturation, will also receive emphasis.

In Indonesia, Phase I revealed considerable potential for production of pigeonpea. Phase II will continue the research into adaptation and productivity, particularly on the outer islands where acid soils are important limitations. Pigeonpea is basically a new crop there, except for small areas of traditional cultivation for use as a green vegetable. Phase I initiated studies of other uses, which will now be continued. In particular, pigeonpea has a major potential use as a substitute for soybean in the production of tempeh, which absorbs approximately 1.2 million tonnes of soybean annually. Indonesia is not self-sufficient in soybean, so locally produced pigeonpea could possibly substitute for imported soybean, or supplement soybean production where this is limited. In addition, Phase II will examine the crop's potential as a component of poultry rations. This research may be best undertaken in Thailand and Australia, where appropriate expertise is available, and transferred to Indonesia later.

In Thailand, the Phase 1 research clearly indicated a potential for pigeonpea, especially in the northeast and as an intercrop in rubber plantations in the south. Phase II research will be concentrated in northeastern Thailand and will address limitations identified there earlier. These include adaptation and productivity of the crop on the low-fertility acid soils and appropriate control methods for pests (and possibly diseases). The team will also evaluate pigeonpea as a food, feed and export crop, incorporating an economic analysis of its production in some farming systems. This will be carried out in collaboration with ICRISAT.

Extension to India offers an opportunity to conduct detailed research into factors influencing yield of short-season pigeonpea, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). The Council's institutes and a number of universities maintain large pigeonpea programs, offering significant disciplinary-based knowledge and experience with the species. The research will exploit this capability in investigating some of the divergent results obtained in Australia and India. Yield accumulation, limits to productivity, and the application of short-season pigeonpea to a wide range of Indian farming systems will also be jointly investigated, and will involve exchanges of research personnel for up to five months.

In Australia, detailed studies will continue in two major areas: agronomy/physiology and plant breeding/genetics. Together with Phase I data, results in agronomy and physiology will assist development of a growth model for early-season pigeonpea. Research will address specific factors including nitrogen fixation and its contribution to crop rotations, also water stress, low radiation and low
temperature. Breeding and genetic studies will concentrate on better understanding of inheritance of important characters and ways to incorporate them into improved genotypes. Continuing analyses of multi-environment adaptation will also contribute to development of the model.

Elite lines of germplasm are available from the project leaders; it is intended that many countries become involved in testing the germplasm in a wide range of environments.

Close collaboration with ICRISAT has been of mutual benefit and will continue, particularly in the fields of pest and disease control and in relation to the ICRISAT Asian Grain Legume Program.

Effective interaction of collaborators, both in Australia and overseas, occurred during Phase I and proved effective and creative. It will be continued and strengthened during Phase II.