Considerations for Breeding, Maintenance, and Utilization of TGMS Lines for a Two–Parent Hybrid System in Pigeonpea

Thermo-sensitive male sterility (TGMS) system has already proven its worth in rice. After China, it is now finding its roots in other rice growing countries. In pigeonpea, the first thermo-sensitive male sterility has now been reported, and this provides a good option to pigeonpea breeders for breeding high yielding hybrids. This will ease the process of seed production of male sterile (A-line) parent, because it will eliminate the need of maintainer (B-line) and more importantly, the pollinating insects. Besides this, for hybrid seed production it will not require the fertility restorer (R-line) also. To assist the pigeonpea breeders, this paper outlines salient feature of TGMS-based hybrid breeding technology (two parent hybrid breeding) such as breeding new hybrid parents, seed production, and identifying critical sterility and fertility points.