Inheritance of compact dwarf plant type in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Abstract A compact dwarf plant type TDT2004‐1 isolated from the progeny of a cross involving Cajanus cajan (cv. ‘C‐11’) and C. cajanifolia was investigated for its inheritance. Pigeonpea genotype TDT2004‐1 is semi‐determinate in growth habit; short (approximately 37 cm) with reduced internodal length (1.2 cm), a compact canopy and a high harvest index (40%), while genotype TT44‐4 is indeterminate in growth habit; tall (132 cm) with normal internodal length (2.3 cm), an open canopy and a low harvest index (28.9%). The inheritance study involving cross TT44‐4 × TDT2004‐1 showed that the compact dwarf plant type was governed by a single recessive gene. TDT2004‐1 could be utilized for improving the harvest index and also for restructuring the plant canopy in pigeonpea.