Effect of d2 dwarfing gene on grain yield and yield components in pearl millet near-isogenic lines

Rai, K N and Rao, A S (1991) Effect of d2 dwarfing gene on grain yield and yield components in pearl millet near-isogenic lines. Euphytica, 52 (1). pp. 25-31. ISSN 0014-2336

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Abstract

A d2 dwarfing gene in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is currently being extensively used for the development of hybrid parents. Its effect on grain yield and yield components is poorly understood. Twelve pairs of tall and dwarf near-isogenic lines developed in the diverse genetic background of three composites were evaluated for grain yield and yield components for 2 years at two locations in southern India. The d2 gene or the genes linked to it, on an average, reduced plant height by 42%, grain yield by 14%, and head girth by 8% but increased head length and number of tillers per plant by about 5–6%. Large variations were observed among pairs (genetic background) for the difference between tall and dwarf near-isogenic lines for all of the above yield components resulting in no significant difference in five pairs and 17–35% less yield in dwarfs as compared to their tall counterparts in six pairs. Days to 50% flowering and seed weight were least affected by the d2 gene with the average difference between tall and dwarf groups of near-isogenic lines being of the order of 1–2%. These results indicate that the advantageous effects of d2 dwarfing gene can be effectively exploited by manipulating the genetic background. The difference between the average grain yields of tall and dwarf groups of near-isogenic lines showed considerable variation across environments with the dwarfs yielding as much as tall group in one environment and up to 30% less than the tall group in the other, thus, indicating that the d2 gene effect may be substantially modified by the environments.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Pennisetum glaucum, pearl millet, dwarfing gene, near,isogenic lines - yield and yield components
Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets
Depositing User: Mr Sanat Kumar Behera
Date Deposited: 15 Oct 2011 09:15
Last Modified: 15 Oct 2011 09:36
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/2621
Official URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/p62811n1j1521w...
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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