Evaluation and molecular characterization of vegetable type pigeonpea ( <i>Cajanus cajan</i> (L.)) genotypes for nutritional quality and yield attributing traits

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an important legume valued for its high protein and diverse uses. This study evaluated 16 vegetable-type pigeonpea genotypes at the green pod stage for agronomic traits, nutritional quality, and genetic diversity using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. Significant genotypic variation was found in chlorophyll content, leaf area, plant height, and yield components. Green pod yield per plant showed the highest genotypic coefficient of variation, while chlorophyll content at R8 showed the lowest. Broad-sense heritability was highest for 100 fresh pod weight and lowest for chlorophyll content at R6. Heatmap analysis revealed distinct clusters of traits, and strong positive correlations were observed among pod weight, pod length, and yield. SCoT markers effectively distinguished genotypes, with PIC values ranging from 0.4145 to 0.8397; SCoT-13 had the highest PIC value. Nutritional analysis revealed higher zinc and iron content in vegetable-type pigeonpeas, while grain types had more protein and calcium. Interaction analysis revealed genotype-by-stage effects, with calcium, carbohydrate, and protein increasing from green pod to mature seed, while iron, manganese, and zinc varied by genotype. These findings underscore the importance of considering genetic background and developmental stage in breeding, with parallel breeding approaches recommended for yield and nutritional traits.