Recombinant Breeding in Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea. L): Pioneering High-yield Varieties for Sustainable Agriculture

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The development of new crop varieties, including barnyard millet, typically spans 6 to 9 years, a process that began with breeding efforts initiated in 2008. The breeding work involved initial crossings, followed by selection starting from the F2 generation, which achieved stabilization in the F5 generation with the identification of the best plants. The resulting high-yielding, medium-maturing barnyard millet variety, DHBM-93-3, was developed at the Agricultural Research Station in Hanumanamatti, under the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. This variety matures in 85 to 90 days, features an erect growth habit with a height ranging from 132 to 147.5 cm, and produces bold, oval-shaped grains of gray color. DHBM-93-3 has demonstrated an impressive grain yield of 23.20 q/ha and a fodder yield of 6.33 t/ha, along with remarkable tolerance to shoot fly infestation (0.0%). Notably, this variety outperformed national checks VL-172 and VL-207, with yield increases of 27.17% and 12.59%, respectively. In preliminary and station trials conducted between 2010 and 2013, DHBM-93-3 achieved an average seed yield of 39.24 q/ha, significantly exceeding RAU-11 and VL-207 by 42.17% and 16.82%. Over a three-year evaluation period, it consistently yielded 23.20 q/ha, surpassing VL-172 and VL-207 by 27.15% and 12.59%, respectively. The varieties exceptional adaptability was highlighted by significant yield increases across various states, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, where it exceeded VL-172 by 108.5%. DHBM-93-3 also exhibited superior disease resistance, with a mean grain smut incidence of 2.46%, compared to 10.06% for VL-172 and 15.93% for VL-207, as well as complete resistance to head smut. Furthermore, it showed outstanding resilience against shoot fly infestation, maintaining a consistent infestation rate of 0.0%. Nutritionally, DHBM-93-3 excelled in zinc (36.8 mg/kg), iron (12.5 mg/kg), and calcium (14 mg/kg) content, although its protein content was slightly lower than that of VL-172. DHBM-93-3 represents a highly productive and resilient variety, capable of enhancing food security and addressing micronutrient deficiencies, thus positioning it as an excellent choice for cultivation across diverse agro-climatic regions of India.