Influence of Synchronization Techniques and Dates of Sowing on Nicking in Parental Lines of Pearl Millet Hybrid BPMH-3 Seed Production

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out during Kharif 2016 at the Main Agricultural Research Station, to investigate the effect of staggered sowings and application of additional dose of nitrogen to late parent on synchronization of male and female parents of pearl millet hybrid BPMH-3. The field experiment comprised of twelve treatments with three replications in split plot design. The results revealed that staggered sowing of male parent nine days earlier than female (S4) took less number of days for panicle initiation, flower initiation and 50 per cent flowering in male. On the other hand simultaneous sowing of female and male parent (S1) recorded the lowest values for growth parameters and it took more number of days to panicle initiation, flower initiation and 50 per cent flowering. This revealed that sowing of male parent nine days earlier than the female parent and application of additional 10 kg N ha-1 to male parent at 35 days after sowing (S4) was appropriate to achieve nicking between female and male parental lines of pearl millet hybrid, BPMH-3. Another experiment was conducted at Saidapur farm, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, to study the flowering behaviour of TPRT 111 (male) and ICMA 9277 (female) parents of pearl millet BPMH-3 in periodical date of sowing with fifteen days interval from first June, 2016 to Second fortnight of December, 2016. The results revealed that the female (ICMA 9277) and male (TPRT 111) parental lines took significantly more number of days 52.00 days and 64.00 days respectively when sown during first fortnight of June 2016. While, less number of days was recorded by female and male parental lines (46.00 days and 51.00 days respectively) when sown during second fortnight of December 2016. Progressive decline in days to fifty percent flowering was observed with the advancement in the sowing which narrow down the flowering gap between male and female parental line.