ICRISAT, PJTSAU release high-yielding disease-resistant pigeon pea variety in India

TDRG 59, a high-yielding variety of pigeon pea resistant to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic diseases, has been identified for cultivation in India’s south zone. The new variety produced 23.13 per cent higher yield than the national check-in three-year trials conducted by the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on pigeon pea. Developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University’s (PJTSAU) Agricultural Research Station in Tandur, TDRG 59 was identified by AICRP in June 2021. Also known as ICPL 99050, the variety produced an average yield of 1719 kg/ha or 23.13 per cent higher than ICPL 8863 (national check) and 26.21 per cent higher than CO 8 (local check) in multi-location trials. The fungal disease Fusarium wilt and the viral disease caused by the sterility mosaic virus are two diseases that significantly lower pigeon pea yields. ICRISAT developed the line which was taken up for testing and evaluation by the research station.