Utility of pearl millet landraces in breeding dual-purpose hybrids for arid zone environments of India

    Yadav, O P and Bidinger, F R and Singh, D V (2009) Utility of pearl millet landraces in breeding dual-purpose hybrids for arid zone environments of India. Euphytica, 166 (2). pp. 239-247. ISSN 0014-2336

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    Abstract

    In pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), single cross hybrids based largely on exotic germplasm, have found very limited adoption in drought-prone arid regions mainly due to their inadequate adaptation to prevalent extremely harsh agro-climatic conditions. This study tested the hypothesis that the use of restorer parents derived from adapted landrace germplasm could be an alternative strategy in developing suitable hybrids for arid regions. Forty inbred restorer lines developed from two phenotypically diverse landraces were used to develop hybrids evaluated in this study for their performance in five typical arid zone environments between 2003 and 2007. Inbred lines from both landrace populations differed significantly in their combining ability for biomass, harvest index and grain and stover yields. A larger proportion of experimental hybrids, based on selected inbred lines, significantly outperformed the commercial checks for grain and stover yields. Increase in grain and stover yields was achieved primarily due to their higher biomass productivity, with no decline in harvest index. Choice of landrace determined the relative grain and stover productivity of their hybrids. Phenotypic differences observed in parental landraces in tillering and panicle length were also visible in their respective hybrids, indicating that characteristics of landrace parental populations were transmitted in their hybrids

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Uncontrolled Keywords: Drought; Arid zone; Breeding; Hybrids; Pearl millet; Pennisetum glaucum
    Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets
    Depositing User: Ms K Syamalamba
    Date Deposited: 16 Jan 2013 10:22
    Last Modified: 07 Feb 2014 05:21
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6424
    Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10681-008-9834-y
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: UNSPECIFIED
    Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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