PRODUCTION OF HYBRIDS BETWEEN CAJANUS-PLATYCARPUS AND CAJANUS-CAJAN

Cajanus platycarpus a wild species of pigeonpea incompatible with the cultigen has many desirable characters important for the improvement of cultivated pigeonpea. In the present study, barriers to hybridization were studied and were identified as post-zygotic. Efficient embryo rescue techniques were developed. As a result, hybrids were produced. Morphological and cytological studies as well as esterase isozyme band pattern confirmed the hybrid nature of the plants. The F-1 hybrids were completely pollen sterile. Meiotic studies were carried out to check for the cause of pollen sterility.