Research Projects

Cowpea, a popular grain legume in India, is grown in arid and semi-arid zones, with a total acreage of 3.9 million ha and production of 2.21 million tons. It is a significant component of human dietary supplements and livestock feeds, particularly for small-scale farmers and rural communities. However, cowpea production in India is not meeting the country's demand, and its growth rate has stagnated over the past three decades. The low yield potential of cowpea makes it a major obstacle for wide-scale adaptation, as its cultivation is concentrated in rainfed areas. Poor agronomic practices and damage from insect pests and pathogens contribute to the low productivity of cowpea. Yellow/golden mosaic disease (YMV) is a major problem in cowpea, resulting in 10 to 100% yield loss. Yellow mosaic viruses are caused by various Begomovirus species and transmitted rapidly by whiteflies. Despite various disease management practices, these methods are often inadequate. To combat the disease, resistance and tolerant varieties are necessary. Breeding for resistant varieties is a long-lasting process, and sometimes, it fails due to multiple virus infections and host resistance breakdown. Limited stable resistant varieties are available for managing YMV. Gujarat cowpea 3 (GC3) is frequently used as a potential resistant donor. The mechanism of resistance to plant viruses in these genetic backgrounds is yet to be deciphered. Identifying and characterizing resistant genes through molecular biology techniques is necessary for speed breeding and rapid development of YMV-resistant cowpea.