Relationship Between Nutritional Quality Characters and Grain Yield in Pearl Millet1

Abstract

Before selecting genotypes for such quality characteristics as protein or amino acid contents, it is important to know how such selection is likely to affect yield. Using a diverse range of germplasm grown over seasons, locations and years, the relationships that exist between protein content, dye binding capacity (DBC) per unit protein (an estimate of the basic amino acids in protein), grain yield and grain size in pearl millet [P. americanum (L.) Leeke] were investigated. Protein content was estimated as total N ✕ 6.25, total N being measured with an automatic analyzer. Basic amino acid content was estimated using the Udy DBC technique. Grain yield and protein content were not significantly correlated and the relationship between grain yield and DBC/protein was nonsignificant and negative. The relationship between protein and DBC/protein was strongly negative. These results suggest that in pearl millet it should be possible to select for increased protein content or basic amino acid content (of which lysine is the most important) by monitoring levels of lysine and protein, respectively, without detrimental effect on grain yield or grain weight.