ICPH 2671 – the world's first commercial food legume hybrid

ICRISAT scientists, working with I ndian programme counterparts, developed the world's first cytoplasmic‐nuclear male sterility ( CMS )‐based commercial hybrid in a food legume, the pigeonpea [ C ajanus cajan ( L .) M illsp.]. The CMS , in combination with natural outcrossing of the crop, was used to develop viable hybrid breeding technology. Hybrid ICPH 2671 recorded 47% superiority for grain yield over the control variety ‘ M aruti’ in multilocation on‐station testing for 4 years. In the on‐farm trials conducted in five I ndian states, mean yield of this hybrid (1396 kg/ha) was 46.5% greater than that of the popular cv. ‘M aruti’ (953 kg/ha). Hybrid ICPH 2671 also exhibited high levels of resistance to F usarium wilt and sterility mosaic diseases. The outstanding performance of this hybrid has led to its release for cultivation in I ndia by both a private seed company (as ‘ P ushkal’) and a public sector university (as ‘ RV ICPH 2671’). Recent developments in hybrid breeding technology and high yield advantages realized in farmers' fields have given hope for a breakthrough in pigeonpea productivity.