Genetic Enhancement of Seed Proteins in Pigeonpea – Methodologies, Accomplishments, and Opportunities

Abstract

The food and nutritional security in India is assuming alarming situation as the protein availability in the decade ending 2009 has reduced from the recommended 46 g/head/day to < 25 g. This is leading a wide spread mal-nutrition among children and women. In view of continuing high population growth, this problem will assume even greater concerns in time to come. In the present paper the research work conducted at ICRISAT to breed new high-yielding high-protein lines has been summarized.The newly bred pigeonpea lines have protein between 28-30% and yield as good as cultivars, an estimate on protein yield showed that the cultivation of high protein lines in one hectare will yield an additional 100,000 g protein for the farming families living under subsistence level.