Radiation Research with Pigeonpeas (Cajanus cajan): Results on X1 and X2 Generations

Abstract

Seed of pigeonpea variety Kaki were irradiated at Oak Ridge National Laboratories with different doses of gamma rays and neutrons. The effects of both sources of radiation were studied on seed germination, plant growth, and flowering date during the X1 generation, and plant height and number of days to flower on the X2 generation. The results indicate that both sources of radiation reduced seed germination, and plant height, and induced both earliness and lateness in number of days to flower during the X1 generation. Genetic variability for plant height and early- and late-flowering lines was increased considerably in the X2 generation in the radiated population. With the new source of germ plasm located it appears that pigeonpea varieties can now be selected with more desirable characteristics, thus permitting a considerable increase in production in Puerto Rico.