Maintenance Breeding in Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] — An Assessment and Advanced Strategies

Abstract

The sustainable maintenance breeding of pigeonpea germplasm, genetic stocks, released cultivars, and hybrid parents is a tough job. The prime reason for their genetic contamination is the insect‐aided cross‐pollination. Although various public and private seed agencies are involved in maintenance breeding to produce different grades of pigeonpea seeds, but the limitation of resources and low priority make it difficult to meet the national seed requirements. This manuscript, aside from reviewing the present pigeonpea maintenance breeding methods, their limitations, and accomplishments, also highlights some advanced breeding and genomics approaches to enhance the efficiency of maintenance breeding.