Nutritionally Dense Chickpea and Pigeonpea Germplasm Accessions Identified at Icrisat.

Pulses are rich source of protein, carbohydrates, minerals, fibers and vitamins. ICRISAT genebank has the largest collection of chickpea (20,602 accessions, 59 countries) and pigeonpea (13,771 accessions, 74 countries) germplasm, which have been characterized for morpho-agronomic traits and representative core (10% of the accessions of entire collection) and mini core (10% of core or 1% of entire collection) collections formed to enhance utilization in crop improvement. Averaged over three seasons, protein in chickpea mini core ranged from 16.7% to 23.8%. Thirty one accessions showed significantly greater (18-33%) protein over Annigeri (17.8%). This mini core was also evaluated for one season for oligosaccharides and iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentrations. While no significant difference was noted for Fe, 12 accessions had significantly greater (22-33%) Zn over control ICCV 92944 (Fe, 68.4 mg kg^-1 seed; Zn, 43.8 mg kg^-1 seed). Significant differences were noted for oligosaccharides, with 18, 7, 13, and 14 accessions respectively having 29-101%, 43-84%, 14-61% and 25-61% greater sucrose, raffinose, ciceritol, and stachyose concentrations over controls. Twenty-four desi and two kabuli accessions possessing seed nutritional traits, respectively, yielded at par with Annigeri (1594 kg ha^-1) and ICCV 2 (1407 kg ha^-1). Pigeonpea mini core collection was evaluated for two seasons for protein, Fe and Zn. Narrow genetic variation was noted for protein (17-18.7%), Fe (30-34 mg kg^-1 seed) and Zn (29-32 mg kg^-1 seed). Limited evaluation of wild relatives of pigeonpea in contrast showed abundant variation for protein (18-34%), Fe (41-64 mg kg^-1 seed), and Zn (30-49 mg kg^-1 seed). Crosses involving Cajanus cajan × C. scarabaeoides resulted into a line, ICPL 87162, with high protein (up to 32%) compared to 23% in control C 11. Research on systematic characterization of wild relatives for seed nutritional traits is in progress to identify nutritionally dense types for use in breeding.