ISSN 2375-074X
African Journal of Plant Breeding ISSN 2375-074X Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-004, November, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study on stigma receptivity of cytoplasmic-nuclear male-sterile lines of pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.
R. H. Luo1, V. A. Dalvi1, Y. R. Li1 and K. B. Saxena2
1Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Laboratory, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, P.R. China 530007.
2International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, A.P. India.
Accepted 09 July, 2017
Abstract
Stigma receptivity in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] was studied using 2 male-sterile lines (ICPA 2039 and ICPA 2043) under field conditions. An experiment was conducted to observe the stigma receptive period at Nanning (22°N 108°E) in Southern China. The study revealed that the stigma was receptive 48 h before flower opening and continued up 4 days after flower opening. The peak stigma receptivity was on the day of flower opening with 84 and 86% pod set after hand pollination in the male-sterile lines ICPA 2039 and ICPA 2043, respectively. This floral stage is characterized by the corolla to calyx length ratio of 2.75 ± 0.075 (ICPA 2039) and 2.60 ± 0.283 (ICPA 2043). The long time span of stigma receptivity in pigeonpea encourages insect-aided natural out-crossing. This information will help breeders to carry out hybridization activity with high success rates. Also the long receptivity may facilitate more seed yield in isolated seed production blocks.
Key words: CMS lines, pigeonpea, stigma receptivity.