Diversity, combining ability, and heterotic patterns among African pearl millet landraces
Abstract
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is a drought tolerant crop that is widely grown in the dry sahel zone of sub-Saharan Africa and in the semi-arid regions of north-western India. African pearl millet landraces average grain yields of 500 kg ha$\sp{-1}$ or less. This low productivity is due to inherent low yield potential, poor soil fertility, low rainfall, and high temperatures during the growing season. Characterization of widely cultivated local African landraces and knowledge of their heterotic patterns and combining ability would be useful in the development of sound breeding program. Ten pearl millet landraces cultivated south of the Sahara (Senegal, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, and Sudan), were evaluated during the 1989 crop season in two locations in Niger (West Africa). Five of the 10 pearl millet populations were used in a diallel cross to determine heterosis values and combining ability estimates. The five pearl millet landraces and their crosses were evaluated in a randomized complete block design in Niger (2 years, 2 locations) and Tifton-Georgia (1 year, 1 location). They were also evaluated for forage production and in vitro digestibility in Tifton-Georgia. Thirteen morphological and agronomic characters were measured on the 10 pearl millet landraces evaluated in Niger in 1989. Ward's cluster analysis on the 10 landraces revealed similarities between Niger and Senegal, and between Niger and Nigeria pearl millet landraces. Four principal components were found to explain more than 90% of the total variation. In the diallel study, significant differences among entries for most traits were observed. Higher-parent heterosis for grain yield ranged from 25 to 81% and from 38 to 88% in Niger and Tifton, respectively. In the two environments, mean squares for GCA were significant for most traits indicating the importance of additive gene effects for these traits. Dry matter productions were greater in 1989 than 1990. Parents and crosses had similar digestibility levels. The results on diversity analysis, heterosis and combining ability estimates should be useful in choosing pearl millet landraces for intercrossing in the development of cultivars with improved grain or forage yield.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Ejeta, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Agronomy
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