Male‐sterility systems in pigeonpea and their role in enhancing yield

With 1 figure and 4 tables Abstract Male‐sterility has been successfully used for enhancing yield in a number of cereal and vegetable crops. In food legumes, this technology could never be used either due to non‐availability of natural out‐crossing system, or an efficient male‐sterility system or both. Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is a partially cross‐pollinated food legume and recent success in breeding a stable male‐sterility system has allowed breeders to exploit hybrid vigour for increasing yields. The cytoplasmic‐nuclear male‐sterility (CMS)‐based hybrids have recorded 28.4% yield superiority over local checks in farmers’ fields. This paper besides summarizing the reports of all the genetic and CMS systems, also discusses the prospects of utilizing these male‐sterility systems in commercial hybrid breeding programmes.