Generation Mean Analysis Reveals the Predominant Gene Effects for Grain Iron and Zinc Contents in Pearl Millet

Pujar, M and Govindaraj, M and Gangaprasad, S and Kanatti, A and Gowda, T H and Dushyantha Kumar, B M and Satish, K M (2022) Generation Mean Analysis Reveals the Predominant Gene Effects for Grain Iron and Zinc Contents in Pearl Millet. Frontiers in Plant Science (TSI), 12 (693680). pp. 1-13. ISSN 1664-462X

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Abstract

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a climate-resilient dryland cereal that has been identified as a potential staple food crop that can contribute to alleviating micronutrient malnutrition, particularly with respect to grain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) contents, in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. In this regard, an understanding of the inheritance pattern of genes involved in Fe and Zn contents is vital for devising appropriate breeding methods to genetically enhance their levels in grains. In this study, we aimed to determine the genetic effects underlying such inheritance and their interactions based on the generation mean analyses. Four experimental crosses and their six generations (P1, P2, F1, BCP1, BCP2, and F2) were independently evaluated in a compact family block design in 2017 rainy and 2018 summer seasons. ANOVA revealed highly significant mean squares (p < 0.01) among different generations for grain Fe and Zn contents. Six-parameter generation mean analyses revealed a predominance of additive genetic effect and a significant (p < 0.05) additive x dominant interaction for the grain Fe content. The additive genetic effect for the grain Zn content was also highly significant (p < 0.01). However, interaction effects contributed minimally with respect to most of the crosses for the grain Zn content and hence we assume that a simple digenic inheritance pattern holds true for it. Furthermore, we established that narrow-sense heritability was high for the grain Fe content (>61.78%), whereas it was low to moderate for the grain Zn content (30.60–59.04%). The lack of superior parent heterosis coupled with non-significant inbreeding depression for Fe and Zn contents in grains further confirmed the predominance of an additive genetic effect. These findings will contribute to strategizing a comprehensive breeding method to exploit the available variability of grain Fe and Zn contents for the development of biofortified hybrids of pearl millet.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : Asia
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Biofortification, Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Additive, Dominant, Gene interaction, Epistasis, Heritability
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Millets > Pearl Millet Others > Plant Nutrition Others > Biofortification Others > Food and Nutrition
Depositing User:	Mr Arun S
Date Deposited:	11 Feb 2022 08:28
Last Modified:	11 Feb 2022 08:29
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11959
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.693680
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Google Scholar

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