Archive · 9 Jun 2025
Heat-Resistant Pigeonpea Developed to Tackle Crop Shortages
Scientists have created a new type of pigeonpea that can handle extreme heat.
This new crop can grow in places and seasons where pigeonpea couldn't grow before, potentially helping to solve pulse shortages in India and elsewhere.
They sped up the breeding process, cutting the development time significantly.
This new pigeonpea can yield more and is ready to harvest faster.
It can grow uniformly, making harvesting easier.
The new variety has already been tested successfully in some states.
Scientists at ICRISAT developed a pigeonpea variety that can withstand temperatures up to 45°C.
This could allow pigeonpea to grow on 12 million hectares of rice fallows.
Speed breeding reduced the development time from 15 years to 5 years.
The new variety could double yields to 2 tonnes per hectare.
The new variety matures faster, reducing harvest time.
- Who
- Scientists at ICRISAT.
- What
- Development of a heat-tolerant pigeonpea variety.
- When
- Published June 9, 2025
- Where
- India and Africa.
- Why
- To address pulse shortages and climate challenges faced by farmers.
- Lead Institution
- ICRISAT
- New Pigeonpea Variety
- ICPV 25444
- Heat Tolerance
- 45°C
- Development Time Reduction
- 5 years
- Potential Yield
- 2 tonnes/hectare
- Harvest Period
- 4 months