Breakthrough in pigeon pea research: New gene fights destructive disease

When attacked by the disease, farmers lose up to 90 per cent of their pigeon pea yields. 
| Photo Credit:
KAMAL NARANG

A team of scientists from India’s premier agricultural research institutes has identified a gene that offers resistance to pigeon pea (tur) against the dreaded Sterility Mosaic disease, which causes severe destruction to the crop. When attacked by the disease, farmers lose up to 90 per cent of their pigeon pea yields. The newly identified gene, Ccsmd04, has the potential to mitigate the disease by providing the plant with resistance, according to a newly published study.

The study team comprised of Manish K Pandey (Principal Scientist-Genomics, Pre-breeding & Bioinformatics, ICRISAT), along with scientists from the Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR, Uttar Pradesh), Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU, Bihar), and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI, Assam).

Using advanced genomics, phenomics, and high-powered computational analysis, the team discovered the gene in Asha (ICPL 87119), a widely cultivated, ICRISAT-bred pigeon pea variety.

“This is a landmark discovery by ICRISAT and ICAR researchers, considering the severity of SMD in the region. The identified genetic variants, genes, and markers hold immense potential for breeding more resistant pigeon pea varieties,” Himanshu Pathak, Director General of International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), said.

He said the institute has been working on host-plant resistance to SMD since 1975. While several resistant varieties have been identified and developed, in-field success has been limited due to the variability in both the virus and its vector, which are mites. This new discovery sheds light on the genomic aspects of SMD resistance in pigeonpea.

“We’ve identified a resistance gene and validated four functional InDel markers associated with SMD resistance; these markers can now be used to screen pigeon pea breeding progenies for early generation selection of SMD resistance. ​ This gene information can also be valuable for genetic improvement through gene editing,” Manish K. Pandey said.

The team will continue its work to explore more resistance genes, including those from wild relatives, to ensure stable resistance in farmers’ fields.

Published on August 12, 2025