Production and characterization of hybrids between Cajanus cajan x C-reticulatus var. grandifolius

Cajanus reticulatus var. grandifolius, endemic to Australia and a wild rela tive of the cultivated species, C. cajan, was successfully crossed with the latter as the female parent. The major wild species characters such as per sistent stipules, long pod hairs, pod shattering, brown seeds with grey spe ckles, and presence of seed strophiole were dominant in the hybrid. For gro wth and branching habit, and leaflet, flower, pod, and seed size, the hybri d was intermediate between the parents. The meiotic cells of the hybrid wer e found to have quadrivalents, trivalents, univalents, and showed reduced c hromosome pairing as revealed by the increased number of rod bivalents per cell at metaphase-I, and stickiness and precocious movement of chromosomes to poles in the second division. In comparison to the parents, the hybrid h ad fewer pods and seeds. However, these anomalies in the interspecific hybr id are not significant enough to preclude the gene transfer from C. reticul atus to the cultivated species through a sexual route.