Grain iron and zinc density in pearl millet: combining ability, heterosis and association with grain yield and grain size

Kanatti, A and Rai, K N and Radhika, K and Govindaraj, M and Sahrawat, K L and Rao, A S (2014) Grain iron and zinc density in pearl millet: combining ability, heterosis and association with grain yield and grain size. SpringerPlus, 3 (763). pp. 1-12. ISSN 2193-1801

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Abstract

Genetics of micronutrients and their relationships with grain yield and other traits have a direct bearing on devising effective strategies for breeding biofortified crop cultivars. A line × tester study of 196 hybrids and their 28 parental lines of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) showed large genetic variability for Fe and Zn densities with predominantly additive gene action and no better-parent heterosis. Hybrids with high levels of Fe and Zn densities, involved both parental lines having significant positive general combining ability (GCA), and there were highly significant and high positive correlations between performance per se of parental lines and their GCAs. There was highly significant and high positive correlation between the Fe and Zn densities, both for performance per se and GCA. Fe and Zn densities had highly significant and negative, albeit weak, correlations with grain yield and highly significant and moderate positive correlation with grain weight in hybrids. These correlations, however, were non-significant in the parental lines. Thus, to breed hybrids with high Fe and Zn densities would require incorporating these micronutrients in both parental lines. Also, simultaneous selection for Fe and Zn densities based on performance per se would be highly effective in selecting for GCA. Breeding for high Fe and Zn densities with large grain size will be highly effective. However, combining high levels of these micronutrients with high grain yield would require growing larger breeding populations and progenies than breeding for grain yield alone, to make effective selection for desirable recombinants

Item Type: Article
Divisions: RP-Dryland Cereals
CRP: CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Cereals
Uncontrolled Keywords: Pearl millet; Micronutrients; Grain yield; Genetic variability; Hybrids; Heterosis; Correlation
Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets
Depositing User: Mr T L Gautham
Date Deposited: 22 Jan 2015 08:43
Last Modified: 23 Jan 2015 03:32
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/8487
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/ doi:10.1186/2193-1801-3-763
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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