Pigeonpea Cultivars Research Articles

Cross-genera amplification of informative microsatellite markers from common bean and lentil for the assessment of genetic diversity in pigeonpea

A total of 24 pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millspaugh) cultivars representing different maturity groups were evaluated for genetic diversity analysis using 10 pigeonpea specific and 66 cross-genera microsatellite markers. Of the cross-genera microsatellite markers, only 12 showed amplification. A total of 45 alleles were amplified by the 22 markers. Nine markers showed 100 % polymorphism. Markers Lc 14, BMd 48 and CCB 9 amplified maximum number (5) of alleles each. One genotype specific unique band in Pusa 9 was generated by markers CCB 8. Maximum genetic diversity (74 %) was observed between cultivars MA 3 and CO 6, while the minimum diversity (12 %) was observed between NDA 1 and DA 11. The average diversity among the cultivars was estimated to be 45.6 %. SSR primers from pigeonpea were found to be more polymorphic (37 %) as compared to common bean and lentil markers. The arithmetic mean heterozygosity (Hav) and marker index (MI) were found to be 0.014 and 0.03, respectively, indicating the potential of common bean and lentil microsatellite markers for genetic mapping, diversity analysis and genotyping in Cajanus.

Inhibitors From Pigeonpea Active Against Lepidopteran Gut Proteinases

The proteinase inhibitors (PIs) active against bovine pancreatic trypsin, chymotrypsin, and insect midgut trypsin-like proteinases were found in the seeds of 14 cultivars and eight wild types of pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan L.. The inhibitory activity of PIs against trypsin and chymotrypsin, as well as their activity profile on gelatin-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were identical among the various cultivars. In contrast to cultivars, the wild types showed differences in inhibitory activity of PIs and their activity profile on gelatin-PAGE. The PIs from all cultivars and few wild types showed 10- to 50-fold higher activity against midgut trypsin-like proteinases of Achaea janata (L.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), compared with bovine pancreatic trypsin. However, the PIs from both cultivars and wild types showed three- to nine-fold less activity against Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) midgut trypsin-like proteinases, compared with bovine pancreatic trypsin. This inhibitory potential of PIs from cultivars and wild types, toward midgut trypsin-like proteinases from A. janata was further evident by the strong activity profile visualized on gelatin-PAGE. These results further suggest that the inhibitory potential of PIs from pigeonpea cultivars and wild types could be exploited in management of nonhost insects.

In vitro digestibility, structural and functional properties of starch from pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) cultivars grown in India

Abstract Starches isolated from two pigeon pea cultivars (AL-15 and AL-201) were evaluated for their in vitro digestibility, structural and functional properties. Both the cultivars exhibited a characteristic C-type diffraction pattern with relative crystallinity values of 31.9% and 34.2%, for AL-15 and AL-201, respectively. The structural characterization obtained using high performance size exclusion column chromatography revealed that molecular weight of amylopectin and amylose was higher for AL-201 (396 and 3.92 × 106 g/mol, respectively) in comparison to AL-15 starch (354 and 3.31 × 106 g/mol, respectively). AL-201 exhibited higher values for transition temperatures, enthalpy of gelatinization, pasting temperature and percentage retrogradation in comparison to AL-15 starch. Slowly digestible starch, readily digestible starch and resistant starch contents of AL-15 and AL-201 cultivars were observed to be 31.0, 8.1 and 60.9% and 29.6, 5.2 and 65.2%, respectively. The hydrolysis index and RS values indicated that pigeon pea starches were highly resistant to digestion.

Morphological and chemical components of resistance to pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera in wild relatives of pigeonpea

Host plant resistance is an important component for minimizing the losses due to the pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera, which is the most devastating pest of pigeonpea. An understanding of different morphological and biochemical components of resistance is essential for developing strategies to breed for resistance to insect pests. Therefore, we studied the morphological and biochemical components associated with expression of resistance to H. armigera in wild relatives of pigeonpea to identify accessions with a diverse combination of characteristics associated with resistance to this pest. Among the wild relatives, oviposition non-preference was an important component of resistance in Cajanus scarabaeoides, while heavy egg-laying was recorded on C. cajanifolius (ICPW 28) and Rhynchosia bracteata (ICPW 214). Accessions belonging to R. aurea, C. scarabaeoides, C. sericeus, C. acutifolius, and Flemingia bracteata showed high levels of resistance to H. armigera, while C. cajanifolius was as susceptible as the susceptible check, ICPL 87. Glandular trichomes (type A) on the calyxes and pods were associated with susceptibility to H. armigera, while the non-glandular trichomes (trichome type C and D) were associated with resistance to this insect. Expression of resistance to H. armigera was also associated with low amounts of sugars and high amounts of tannins and polyphenols. Accessions of wild relatives of pigeonpea with non-glandular trichomes (type C and D) or low densities of glandular trichomes (type A), and high amounts of polyphenols and tannins may be used in wide hybridization to develop pigeonpea cultivars with resistance to H. armigera.

Capabilities of Four Novel Warm‐Season Legumes in the Southern Great Plains: Biomass and Forage Quality

Grain (pulse) legumes could provide high nitrogen (N), late summer forage for stocker cattle in the southern Great Plains (SGP). This study evaluated the forage yield and nutritive value of tropical annual legumes that were relatively uncommon in the SGP, at a site (35°40‘ N, 98°00’ W) in central Oklahoma. Included were cultivars of pigeon pea ([Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], cv. GA‐2), guar ([Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.], cv. Kinman), cowpea ([Vigna unguiculata (L). Walp.], cv. Chinese red), and mung bean ([Vigna radiata (L.) Wilcz.], cv. Berkins), and grain soybean ([Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cv. Hutcheson) was used as a control. Seeds were inoculated and planted (60‐cm row spacing at 10 seeds m−1 row length) annually in mid‐June 2003 through 2006. Aboveground samples were collected on six dates, from 45 to 120 d since planting. Soybean, pigeon pea, and guar averaged 3560, 3439, and 3321 kg ha−1, while mung bean and cowpea averaged 2918 and 2405 kg ha−1, respectively. Mung bean and cowpea accumulated the least N (70 and 65 kg N ha−1), while soybean, guar, and pigeon pea yielded 100, 93, and 77 kg N ha−1, respectively. Digestibility of cowpea, mung bean, soybean, and guar were similar (757 to 825 g kg−1), while pigeon pea was least digestible (634 g kg−1). These pulse legumes could provide producers in the SGP with options other than soybean for generating forage or biological N.

Capabilities of Four Novel Warm‐Season Legumes in the Southern Great Plains: Grain Production and Quality

Grain legumes could serve as a low cost nitrogen (N) and energy source for animal production in the southern Great Plains (SGP). This study evaluated the yield and nutritive value of grains of tropical annual legumes novel to the SGP. Included were cultivars of pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] (cv. GA‐2), guar [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] (cv. Kinman), cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L). Walp.] (cv. Chinese red), mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilcz.] (cv. Berkins), and the grain soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (cv. Hutcheson) as a control. Seeds were inoculated and planted (60‐cm row spacing) annually in mid‐June 2004 through 2006. Seeding rates were varied to achieve 10 seeds m−1 row length. Grain was harvested at the end of growing seasons (90–120 d since planting), and grain samples were ground (1.0 mm) and analyzed for N concentration and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM). Significant (P < 0.05) year × legume interactions were recorded for all characteristics, with variable legume responses among years. Guar produced both the highest (2730 kg ha−1 in 2004) and lowest (897 kg ha−1 in 2005) grain yields. Nitrogen concentrations were the highest in soybean grain (60.2–60.7 g kg−1) and consistently the lowest in pigeon pea (33.3–34.9 g kg−1). Soybean grain had the highest IVDDM (968–969 g kg−1), while pigeon pea had the consistently lowest digestibility (890–894 g kg−1). The four novel legumes produced grains that meet the nutritional requirements for all classes of stocker or feeder cattle.

Assessment of genetic diversity of pigeonpea cultivars using RAPD analysis

In our present study assessment of genetic diversity and identification of pigeonpea cultivars has been done by employing 76 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. Out of 796 amplified products, 587 showed polymorphism (73.7 %) and an average of 10.47 bands were amplified per primer. Cluster analysis based on Jaccard’s similarity coefficient using UPGMA grouped all the cultivars into three clusters. The cluster I consists of 7 cultivars, cluster II of 11 cultivars in 4 sub-clusters and cluster III 4 cultivars. Two cultivars were not included in any cluster. The clustering was strongly supported by high bootstrap values. Furthermore, high values of the average heterozygosity (Hav) and marker index (MI) also indicated the efficiency of RAPD as a marker system.

Interação da deficiência hídrica e da toxicidade do alumínio em guandu cultivado em hidroponia

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da interação da deficiência hídrica e da toxicidade do alumínio no crescimento inicial e teores de prolina livre em duas cultivares de guandu, IAPAR 43-Aratã e IAC Fava Larga, cultivadas em hidroponia. As plântulas foram submetidas aos estresses em solução nutritiva (pH 3,8), nos potenciais osmóticos de 0, -0,004, -0,006, -0,008 e -0,010 MPa, com 0, 0,25, 0,50, 0,75 e 1 mmol dm-3 de Al3+. O experimento foi conduzido em sala de crescimento, sob luminária com irradiância média de 190 mmol m-2 s-1 , fotoperíodo de 12 horas e temperatura de 25+1ºC. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2x5x5 (duas cultivares de guandu, cinco potenciais osmóticos e cinco níveis de alumínio), com quatro repetições. Os dados foram submetidos às análises de regressão polinomial, agrupamento e componentes principais. A deficiência hídrica causa redução do crescimento da parte aérea do guandu, e a toxicidade do alumínio provoca diminuição do crescimento radicular. Houve aumento nos teores de prolina livre nas duas cultivares sob deficiência hídrica, e apenas na IAC Fava Larga sob toxicidade de alumínio. Na análise multivariada, foi observada alta correlação no crescimento e no acúmulo de prolina na cultivar IAC Fava Larga, o que evidencia provável tolerância aos estresses associados.

Fertility Restoration in Cytoplasmic-Nuclear Male-Sterile Lines Derived from 3 Wild Relatives of Pigeonpea

Three cytoplasmic-nuclear male-sterile (CMS) lines, one each derived from Cajanus sericeus (A(1) cytoplasm), Cajanus scarabaeoides (A(2) cytoplasm), and Cajanus cajanifolius (A(4) cytoplasm), were crossed to 7 pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) cultivars in a line x tester mating scheme to study the fertility restoration of the CMS lines. Twenty-one F(1) hybrid combinations were planted in unreplicated 3-row plots in 3 environments. There was no effect of environments on the expression of fertility restoration. Pigeonpea cultivar ICPL 129-3 restored fertility in A(1) cytoplasm and maintained male sterility in the other 2 (A(2) and A(4)) cytoplasms. Among crosses involving CMS line (of A(4) cytoplasm) ICPA 2039 one hybrid combination was male-sterile and another male fertile. The remaining 5 combinations segregated for male-fertility (66-84% fertility restoration). Such testers can easily be purified for use in hybrid breeding programs by selfing and single-plant selection for 2-3 generations.

Comparative study of the functional, thermal and pasting properties of flours from different field pea ( Pisum sativum L.) and pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan L.) cultivars

Physicochemical, functional, thermal and pasting properties of flours from field pea (LFP-48 and PG-3) and pigeon pea (AL-15 and AL-201) cultivars were determined and related to each other using Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Field pea flours (FPF) were significantly ( P < 0.05) different from pigeon pea flours (PPF) in their lower ash and higher fat and protein contents. FPF also exhibited higher L ∗, Δ E value, water solubility index (WSI), oil absorption capacity (OAC), foaming capacity (FC) and lower a ∗, b ∗ value, water absorption index (WAI) and water absorption capacity (WAC) in comparison to PPF. FPF differed significantly from PPF in exhibiting lower transition temperatures ( T o, T p, T c), enthalpy of gelatinization (Δ H gel), peak height index (PHI) and higher gelatinization temperature range ( R). PCA showed that LFP-48 and PG-3 flours were located at the far left of the score plot with a large negative score, while the AL-15 and AL-201 flours had large positive scores in the first principal component. Several significant correlations between functional, thermal and pasting properties were revealed, both by Pearson correlation and PCA. Pasting properties of the flours, measured using the rapid visco analyzer (RVA), also differed significantly. PPF were observed to have higher pasting temperature (PT), peak viscosity (PV), trough viscosity (TV), breakdown (BV), final viscosity (FV) and lower setback viscosity (SV) as compared to FPF.

Inheritance of Podborer (Helicoverpa armigera) Tolerance in Pigeonpea

The legume pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most divesting pests of pigeon pea. And it is an important biotic constraint to pigeon pea production worldwide. In recent years, development of Helicoverpa armigera populations resistant to insecticides has further hampered the control of measures. Therefore, identification and utilization of cultivars resistant to tolerant to Helicoverpa armigera would have a number of advantages, particularly for a relatively low value crop such as pigeon pea. Resistant/susceptible cultivars would provide an equitable, environmentally sound and sustainable pest management tool. High levels of resistance to pod borer have been reported in wild relatives and some of the cultivars of pigeon pea. The pod wall surface and their exudates play a major role in host selection process of inset herbivores. Based on this objective, in the present investigation, inheritance of resistance to pod borer in parents (Cajanus cajan) and their F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations have been studied. Single dominant gene was observed in F2 and backcross generations. This can be

Effect of environment on multi-element grain composition of pigeonpea cultivars under farmers’ conditions

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) is often intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.) in eastern and southern Africa. The studies aimed at determining how different genotypes of pigeonpea responded in terms of grain element composition under farmers’ cropping conditions. Approx. 78 farmers participated. They came from four study sites in Tanzania (Babati and Gairo) and Malawi (Nyambi and Ntonda) that differed in terms of tradition for using pigeonpea as well as in environmental conditions. The individual grain weight of the pigeonpea crops from Malawi were 21% (P 0.05). The amounts of K, Mg, S and Fe accumulated per grain were slightly lower (P 0.41) as the only two grain elements. Unique fingerprinting by multivariate statistics was possible for each site when using the element proportion of the grain dry matter with or without soil characteristics. In all cases, different elements contributed with varying weight to the discrimination between the sites. However, it was not possible to distinguish between the varieties when considering all four environments. Reducing the models to include Fe, K, Mg, P, S and Zn only, did however allow some distinction between the two genotypes, which indicates that genotypic variability is expressed in a fairly limited number of elements. In the cases of Gairo and Nyambi, it was possible to distinguish between varieties. In the case of Gairo, the models distinguished between ICEAP00068 and the others, i.e. ICEAP00040 and Babati White where ICEAP00068 was associated with a higher proportion of Fe, P, S, and Zn in the grain. In the case of Nyambi, the models distinguished between ICEAP00040 and ICP9145 where ICEAP00040 was associated with a lower proportion of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, P, S, and Zn and a higher proportion of Cr and Na in the grain. It is thus possible in some cases to separate varieties based on multi-element grain content across a relatively narrow environmental gradient but not generally across all environments. These findings should be included in breeding programmes focusing on the improvement of the nutritional value of our food crops.

AFLP Fingerprinting in Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) and its Wild Relatives

Detection of DNA polymorphism in cultivated pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and two of its wild relatives Cajanus volubilis and Rhynchosia bracteata is reported here for the first time using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting. For this purpose, two EcoRI (three selective nucleotides) and 14 MseI (three selective nucleotides) primers were used. The two wild species shared only 7.15% bands with the pigeonpea cultivars, whereas 86.71% common bands were seen among cultivars. Similarly, 62.08% bands were polymorphic between C. volubilis and pigeonpea cultivars in comparison to 63.33% polymorphic bands between R. bracteata and pigeonpea cultivars, and 13.28% polymorphic bands among pigeonpea cultivars. The cluster analysis revealed low polymorphism among pigeonpea cultivars and very high polymorphism between cultivated pigeonpea and its wild relatives. The AFLP analysis also indicated that only one primer combination (EcoRI + ACT and MseI + CTG), at the most any four primer pair combinations, are sufficient for obtaining reliable estimation of genetic diversity in closely related cultivars like pigeonpea material analyzed herein. AFLP analysis may prove to be a useful tool for molecular characterization of pigeonpea cultivars and its wild relatives and for possible use in genome mapping.

Influência da disponibilidade hídrica e da acidez do solo no teor de prolina livre de guandu

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da disponibilidade hídrica e da acidez do solo, no teor de prolina livre da parte aérea das cultivares de guandu, IAPAR 43-Aratã e IAC Fava Larga. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2x3x4 (cultivar x disponibilidade hídrica x acidez), com quatro repetições. Em condições de restrição hídrica severa, a cultivar IAC Fava Larga pode ser considerada tolerante, em virtude do maior acúmulo de prolina livre. A presença de alumínio no solo, associada à restrição hídrica severa, apresentou efeito sinergístico sobre os teores de prolina livre.

Effect of insecticide application on pests of late maturing pigeonpea cultivar (Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.) intercropped with maize, cassava, yam and cocoyam

The effect of insecticide application on the incidence of pests of late maturing pigeonpea cultivar in intercrops with maize, yam, cassava, and cocoyam was carried out at the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka agro-ecological zone in 2000/2001 cropping season. The experiment was laid out using split-plot in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The main treatment comprised the following: Yam, Cassava, Cocoyam, maize intercrops and sole pigeonpea. From the studies, insecticidal treatment significantly controlled flower thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) and pod-sucking bugs, - (Clavigralla tomentosicollis) both of which were observed as the serious pests at flowering and podding phases of pigeonpea, but did not offer any significant control of pod borers and podfly on pigeonpea , seed damage. Intercropping on the other hand could not reduce the incidence of flower thrips, podborers - Helicoverpa armigera, pod sucking bugs, - C. tomentosicollis and podfly - Melanagromyza obtusa with regard to seed damage by these pests. Insecticidal treatment improved pigeonpea grain yield (kg/ha) and the weight of 1000 seeds. Intercropping pigeonpea with cocoayam may therefore be of value as a pest control strategy and can be combined with chemical control to achieve remarkable control of pigoenpea pests under the integrated management concept.Nigerian Journal of Technology and Education in Nigeria Vol. 8(2) 2003: 54-64

Development of Core Collection in Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] using Geographic and Qualitative Morphological Descriptors

Pigeonpea is an important pulse crop grown by smallholder farmers in the semi-arid tropics. Most of the pigeonpea cultivars grown to date are selections from the landraces, with a narrow genetic base. With the expansion of the crop to newer areas, problems of local importance are to be addressed. Hence, an economically feasible and faster germplasm evaluation mechanism, such as a core collection, is required. This article describes the development of core collection from 12,153 pigeonpea accessions collected from 56 countries and maintained at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. The germplasm accessions from 56 countries were placed under 14 clusters based primarily on geographic origin. Data on 14 qualitative morphological traits were used for cluster formation by Ward’s method. From each cluster ≈10% accessions were randomly selected to constitute a core collection comprising 1290 accessions. Mean comparisons using Newman–Keuls test, variances’ comparisons by Levene’s test, and comparison of frequency distribution by χ2-test indicated that the core collection was similar to that of the entire collection for various traits and the genetic variability available in the entire collection is preserved in the core collection. The Shannon–Weaver diversity index for different traits was also similar for both entire and core collection. All the important phenotypic associations between different traits available in the entire collection were preserved in the core collection. The core collection constituted in the present study facilitates identification of useful traits economically and expeditiously for use in pigeonpea improvement.

Registration of Pigeonpea Cultivar ‘ICEAP 00040’

‘ICEAP 00040’ [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] (Reg. no. CV-255, PI 639265) was developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and released in 2003 in two countries (Malawi and Tanzania) in eastern and southern Africa (ESA). In Malawi, ICEAP 00040 was released as ‘Kachangu’ jointly by three agencies, namely, ICRISAT-Nairobi (ESA), Department of Agricultural Research Services (Ministry of Agriculture, Malawi), and Legumes Fibers and Oilseeds (Ministry of Agriculture, Malawi). In Tanzania, ICEAP 00040 was released as ‘Mali’ by ICRISAT-Nairobi (ESA) and Ilonga Agricultural Research Institute (Ministry of Agriculture, Tanzania). ICEAP 00040 is a late-maturing pigeonpea cultivar released for its resistance to the fungal pathogen Fusarium udum Butler (the causal agent of Fusarium wilt), and has potential use in the cropping systems of the semiarid ESA region and as a source of germplasm for pigeonpea improvement programs.

A new cytoplasmic nuclear male-sterility system derived from cultivated pigeonpea cytoplasm

Cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) in pigeonpea has been reported when some wild relatives of pigeonpea were crossed as the female parent with cultivated types as the male parent. In this paper we report a new source of CMS developed by using the cultivated pigeonpea as the female parent and one of its wild relative Cajanus acutifolius as the pollen donor. This is the first report in pigeonpea where CMS has been developed using the cytoplasm of cultivated pigeonpea. Several pure line cultivars of pigeonpea restored pollen fertility whereas cv. HPL 24 partially maintained male-sterility. The wild species C. acutifolius used as one of the parents, maintained complete sterility. Cytological analysis revealed that both in male-sterile as well as the fertile floral buds, meiosis proceeded normally till the tetrad stage. However in the male-sterile genotypes during the formation of tetrads, the pollen mother cell (PMC) wall did not dissolve to release the tetrads unlike in the fertile genotypes and this major event was found to be responsible for male-sterility.

Dormência em sementes de guandu (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp)

O ensaio foi conduzido para estudar a ocorrência de dormência, expressa em porcentagem de sementes duras, em sementes de 17 linhagens e três cultivares comerciais de guandu. As sementes foram colhidas, debulhadas manualmente e armazenadas em sacos de papel em câmara a 10°C e 25% de umidade relativa do ar. Foram efetuados testes de germinação com quatro repetições de 50 sementes, após um, dois, três, quatro, cinco, nove, doze e quinze meses de armazenamento. Não foram observadas sementes duras em oito linhagens e nas três cultivares comerciais. Entre essas, a linhagem g58-95 apresentou baixo potencial de armazenamento, com queda rápida de seu poder germinativo. Por outro lado, a linhagem g184-97 apresentou baixo percentual de sementes duras, as linhagens g3-94, g6-95 e g124-95 praticamente mantiveram os percentuais iniciais, as g101-97, g127-97, g154-95 e g167-97 apresentaram aumento no percentual de sementes duras até nove meses de armazenamento e a g27-94, constante decréscimo. Concluiu-se que genótipos de guandu variam amplamente entre si quanto ao caráter 'produção de sementes duras' e que a germinação de suas sementes pode depender de escarificação química ou mecânica.

Sterility Mosaic Disease—the “Green Plague” of Pigeonpea: Advances in Understanding the Etiology, Transmission and Control of a Major Virus Disease

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), is a grain legume that is a very important subsistence crop in marginal farming systems adopted by millions of smallholder farmers in the Indian subcontinent. It is grown for its seed for human consumption and for income generation by trading surpluses in local and commercial markets, but is widely used for diverse purposes, including as animal fodder and for soil conservation. Sterility mosaic (SMD) is the most damaging disease of pigeonpea endemic in the Indian subcontinent. It causes yield losses of &gt;US$300 million per annum in India and Nepal alone. SMD-affected plants show severe stunting and mosaic symptoms on leaves, with complete or partial cessation of flowering. The SMD causal agent is spread by the arthropod mite vector Aceria cajani (Acari: Eriophyidae). Cultivating SMD-resistant genotypes is the most viable way to manage this serious disease of pigeonpea. Progress in developing broad-based SMD resistant material has been hindered by the lack of knowledge of the causal agent, the absence of diagnostic tools, and factors influencing host-plant resistance. After seven decades of research, vital breakthroughs made on the identification, detection, transmission, and epidemiology of the SMD causal agent, Pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV), are enabling the development of broad-based durable resistant pigeonpea cultivars. These breakthroughs will contribute greatly to sustainable pigeonpea production and enhance the income and livelihood of poor farmers in the semi-arid tropics of the Indian subcontinent.