author(s)
Vaibhav D Lohot, J Ghosh, S Ghosal, Thamilarasi K, Gunjan, KK Sharma

abstract
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) commonly known as arhar, red gram or tur of family Fabaceae is an important source of protein, carbohydrates, B-group vitamins, and certain minerals (iron and iodine). It is also known for lac culture, harboring rangeeni strain of Indian lac insect (Kerria lacca Kerr). The present study was planned to investigate the effect of lac culture on seed quality in selected germplasm. Lac culture decrease 100 seed weight (5.4 %) and seed yield (10.5 %). Higher income has been achieved from seed yield along with lac cultivation on MAL 13, IPA 9-1 and KA 9-2 but seed contributed most in income. However, Assam local 1, Assam local 2 and RCMP 5 lines of pigeonpea had significantly higher profit percent under lac cultivation where income from lac culture contributed the most. Lac culture decreases seed soluble protein (10.3 %) and starch (14.7 %) and increases total sugar and free phenol by 8.8 % compared to control. Thus, it can be concluded that farmers will get more income from these three germplasm through combination of seed as well as lac culture than from seed as sole crop.