The International Initiative for Pigeonpea Genomics (IIPG) has just announced the publication of the draft genome sequence of pigeonpea resulting from a joint effort of scientists from India, China and US, in partnership with ICRISAT. According to the authors “this is the first draft genome sequence for a grain legume as well as the first for an orphan legume crop and probably the first for a nonindustrial crop. It will help to increase the efficiency of pigeonpea improvement by integrating biotechnological tools in conventional breeding and the use of genome information of pigeonpea in other legume species”.

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) (Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons)

Pigeonpea is one of the most important sources of protein for poor people in developing countries, but yields have been low and stagnated during the last 50 years. The authors expect that the availability of a draft genome sequence will open new avenues for pigeonpea improvement through SSR and SNP marker-assisted trait identification and recurrent selection.

Hijacking from the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research web site:
Plant genetic resources and seeds:
policies, conservation and use India,

Date: 31 October – 18 November 2011
Please see this unique training opportunity organized by the Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation, and the Center for Genetic Resources, The Netherlands, in collaboration with MSSRF in India and LI-BIRD in Nepal.

The course will focus on community biodiversity management (CBM) and resilience, Participatory learning and action research Multi-stakeholder processes and social learning, conservation strategies, genetic resources and climate change policy frame, and it will be held in November 2011 in India.

Here the detailed brochure on the course focus, objectives, target group and further information:

Training programme Brochure