Effect of cultural treatment on quality and subsequent performance of pearl millet seed

Abstract

Pearl millet ( Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) generally exhibits low seed vigor which affects field establishment and grain yield. We studied the effect of tiller removal, spikelet removal, nitrogen fertilization, hill planting and head selection on seed quality, including density, protein, size, and weight. In subsequent experiments, seed produced under each cultural treatment was tested for vigor, field establishment and grain yield. Spikelet removal and head selection generally increased seed quality: size, weight and, in 1 year, density. Only nitrogen consistently improved seed protein. Hill planting and tiller removal had little effect on seed quality. Greenhouse seedling performance of seeds from the treated plants showed few treatment differences, suggesting that small differences in seed quality may not be critical in seedling performance under good growing conditions. Spikelet removal and head selection increased field establishment and grain yield in most experiments. Influence of seed protein could not be separated from that of seed density and seed size in this study. Selection based on seed size may be more beneficial than selection based on head size.