States » SouthPosted at: Jun 9 2025 3:50PM


ICRISAT develops world’s first heat-tolerant pigeonpea cultivar using speed breeding

Hyderabad, June 9 (UNI) In a landmark achievement for Indian agriculture, scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have developed ICPV 25444—the world’s first extreme heat-tolerant pigeonpea variety.

Developed using the institute’s groundbreaking speed-breeding protocol, this cultivar matures in just 125 days and can thrive in temperatures as high as 45 degrees celsius.

The photo- and thermo-insensitive cultivar has been successfully tested in Karnataka, Odisha, and Telangana, yielding up to 2 tons per hectare. This innovation marks a turning point in pulse cultivation, enabling pigeonpea to be grown even in the scorching summer, beyond the traditional kharif season.

Talking to the media during the field visit on Monday, Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT said, “This breakthrough is a shining example of how science, driven by urgency and purpose, can transform farming and address pulse shortages and climate challenges.”

Developed under the leadership of Dr Prakash Gangashetty, ICRISAT’s speed-breeding protocol has cut down the development time for new pigeonpea varieties from 15 years to just five, growing up to four generations per year. Using space-optimized planting and genomic technologies, scientists maximized seed production and genetic gains.

India currently produces 3.5 million tons of pigeonpea against a demand of 5 million tons, leading to annual imports worth USD 800 million. ICPV 25444 supports both vertical and horizontal expansion—offering a viable solution for kharif and summer cropping, particularly in rice fallow and irrigated regions prone to terminal moisture stress.

The cultivar has shown promising results in field trials, with farmers in Bagalkot, Karnataka, expressing satisfaction over its heat tolerance, short duration, and resilience to pests and diseases.

As part of its global efforts, ICRISAT is now developing a trait diversity panel using its 13,000-accession pigeonpea genebank, supporting breeding programs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

“ICPV 25444 is more than a cultivar—it’s a climate-smart solution that offers farmers security and sustainability in an era of unpredictable weather,” said Dr Sean Mayes, Global Research Program Director, Accelerated Crop Improvement, ICRISAT.
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