Evaluation of landrace topcross hybrids of pearl millet for arid zone environments

Bidinger, F R and Weltzien, E and Mahalakshmi, R V and Singh, S D and Rao, K P (1994) Evaluation of landrace topcross hybrids of pearl millet for arid zone environments. Euphytica, 76 (3). pp. 215-226. ISSN 0014-2336

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Abstract

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) cultivars for marginal, arid environments need to combine the adaptation to stress conditions of indigenous landraces with an improved yield potential and disease resistance, to allow them to both perform well in farmers fields and to meet the requirements for cultivar release. This paper evaluates landrace-based topcross hybrids (adapted landraces crossed on high-yielding male-sterile lines), as a quick and efficient way of achieving this objective. Topcross hybrids showed a consistent increase in biomass production across all test environments, including the harsh arid zone environments. Depending upon the plant type of the male-sterile used to make the hybrid, this was expressed as increased grain yield only, or increased grain and fodder yields. The downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola) reaction of the topcross hybrids was determined by the reaction of the male-sterile line used, with the resistant male-sterile producing resistant topcross hybrids and vice-versa. Topcrossing adapted landraces on high-yielding male-sterile lines thus provides an opportunity to improve disease resistance and grain and/or fodder yields, with no apparent loss of adaptation to the marginal environments in which the landraces have evolved.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Pennisetum glaucum, pearl millet, landrace cultivars, topcross hybrids, grain yield, downy mildew, renstance
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Millets
Depositing User:	Mr Sanat Kumar Behera
Date Deposited:	18 Oct 2011 09:45
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2011 09:46
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/2829
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00022166
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	The author are gratefully acknowledge the support of a number of colleagues at the central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur(Drs.J.Venkateswaralu, M.B.L. Saxena, V.K. Manga & O.P. Yadav) and the Rajasthan Agricultural University Research Station Fatepur(Drs. P.C. Gupta, K.L.Vyas & G.K. Arya) In the conduct of these experiments we are especially grateful to mebers of our own technical staff(Messrs. B.P. Reddy, D.S. Raju, D.V. Chandra Mohan Rao, B.A.Bashee, Y.R.K. Mohan & R.K. Yadav) for their ebdurance in collecting data on the trials, Particularly at the Rajasthan locations. Finally, we wish to thank Drs. Hash and E.J.van Oosterom for their helpful comments on the Manuscript.
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