First report of natural outcrossing in pigeonpea from China

Natural outcrossing in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is primarily responsible for the deterioration of purity of cultivars and genetic stocks. Several insects are responsible for transferring pollen from one plant to another within and across the fields. The major pollinating insects identified are Apis mellifera, A. dorsata, Megachile lanata, Ceratina binghami, and Xylocop spp. The populations of these pollinating insects and local environmental factors that assist in their movement determine the extent of natural outcrossing at a particular location. Natural outcrossing in pigeonpea has been reported from India, Kenya, Australia, Hawaii (USA), and Sri Lanka (Saxena et al. 1990, 1994).