18 Sept 2025
In a major breakthrough for Indian agriculture, scientists have identified a gene that can protect pigeon pea (tur) from Sterility Mosaic Disease (SMD), a devastating infection that can wipe out up to 90% of yields.
The newly discovered gene, Ccsmd04, offers strong resistance against the disease, which has long plagued pigeon pea farmers across India. The finding is the result of a collaborative effort involving researchers from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICRISAT, Central Agricultural University (Bihar), the Indian Institute of Pulses Research (Uttar Pradesh), and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (Assam).
The research team, led by Dr. Manish K. Pandey, Principal Scientist (Genomics, Pre-breeding & Bioinformatics) at ICRISAT, employed advanced genomics, phenomics, and computational analysis to locate the gene in Asha (ICPL 87119), a widely cultivated pigeon pea variety.
“This is a landmark discovery, considering the severity of SMD in pigeon pea-growing regions,” said Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT. “The identified genetic variants, genes, and markers hold immense promise for breeding more resistant pigeon pea varieties.”
SMD, transmitted by mites carrying multiple viral strains, has challenged plant breeders for decades despite several resistant varieties being developed. According to Dr. Pandey, the discovery not only identified a resistance gene but also validated four functional InDel markers that can be used to screen pigeon pea breeding progenies for early selection. “This advancement will also pave the way for genetic improvement through gene editing,” he added.
ICRISAT has been working on host-plant resistance to SMD since 1975. While earlier efforts faced limitations in field conditions, this new gene discovery provides fresh hope for developing durable resistance. The team now aims to explore additional resistance genes, including those from wild relatives, to secure long-term protection for farmers.