Characterization of Parental Lines and Land Races of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br.] by DUS Descriptors

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to characterize 31 pearl millet genotypes with 28 morphological traits using DUS descriptors at the Department of Millets, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during Kharif 2019. The landrace Kizikuppam local was found to have a very long leaf length and a medium leaf width, indicating a high leaf area index, an important physiological trait that could be employed in future breeding programmes. The genotypes PT 6067, PT 6707, PT 6710, Cumbu 1, Uthangarai local and Shoolagiri local had compact panicle, an important ordinal trait for yield improvement. Small, yellow-brown color and elliptical shaped seeds were noted in Kuttu Cumbu 1, Kuttu Cumbu 2, Kuttu Cumbu 3, and Pothu Cumbu, which could be used to promote the variation in the base population. The early flowering nature of these genotypes might incorporate drought resistance. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster (AHC) analysis showed PT 6582, Kizikuppam local, Uthangarai local, and Dhanashakti were placed under cluster VI with maximum cluster mean for single plant yield. Superior classification of these genotypes for plant growth habit, leaf sheath length, leaf blade length, leaf blade width, panicle exertion, panicle length, panicle girth, number of productive tillers, plant height, panicle density and thousand seed weight indicated the importance of these ordinal traits in yield improvement by using the genotypes of this cluster. The Shannon-Wiener index was high for the time of spike emergence, thousand seed weight, leaf blade length, panicle shape, panicle density and seed color.