Ear Head Length Research Articles

Integrated weed management in pearl millet

A field experiment was carried out during the rainy (Kharif) seasons of 2012 to 2014 in medium black soil at Bajra Research Scheme, Dhule, Maharashtra, to evaluate the effect of integrated weed management in rainfed pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) with pre-emergence application of atrazine 0.5 kg/ha + 1 HW at 35 DAS, four levels of post-emergence application of atrazine (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 kg/ha) along with one hand weeding at 35 DAS, two hand weeding and hoeing (at 20 and 40 DAS). The maximum grain yield was recorded with pre-emergence application of atrazine 0.5 kg/ha + 1 HW at 35 DAS, which was at par with two hand weeding and hoeing, and post-emergence application of atrazine 0.4 kg/ha + 1 HW at 35 DAS and increased the yield by 62.14% over weedy check. The higher grain yield may be owing to significantly lower weed dry weight, higher weed control efficiency which reflected in higher values of plant height, number of effective tillers/plant, earhead length and 1,000 grain weight. Maximum net returns (i 27,282/ha) and B:C ratio (2.73) were realized with pre-emergence application of atrazine 0.5 kg/ha + 1 HW at 35 DAS followed by post-emergence application of atrazine 0.4 kg/ha + 1 HW at 35 DAS which recorded net monetary returns of 125,404/ha and B:C ratio 2.62.

Effect of integrated nitrogen management on productivity, quality of pearl millet and soil fertility of clay soils under south Gujarat conditions

A field experiment was carried out during summer 2015 to study the integrated nitrogen management in summer pearl millet under south Gujarat conditions. The results revealed that pearl millet GHB-558 performed better by combined application of 50% RDN from chemical fertilizers+25% nitrogen from vermicompost+25% nitrogen from neemcake recorded significantly higher value for plant height, dry matter accumulation per plant, total tillers per plant, earhead length, earhead girth, effective tillers, test weight, grain yield per earhead as well as grain and straw yield over rest of the treatments. Application of 50% RDN from chemical fertilizers+25% nitrogen from vermicompost+25% nitrogen from neemcake was found the most superior and effective treatments in terms of total uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, protein content in grain, grain yield, net returns and B: C ratio. Significantly higher total uptake of nitrogen (99.62 kg/ha), phosphorus (16.37 kg/ha) and potassium (75.23 kg/ha), protein yield in grain (291.03 kg/ha), grain yield (2057 kg/ha), straw yield (5347 kg/ha), net returns (Rs. 18773/ha) and B: C ratio (0.71) were observed. These applications proved most superior treatments for improvement in post-experiment soil fertility by increased soil organic carbon, N, P and K content.

Trait association among beta carotene content and yield attributes in recombinant inbred lines of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is the staple diet for a vast majority of poor farmers in arid and semi-arid regions of India. An experiment was conducted at Millet Breeding Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to determine the interrelationship between yield and yield component traits in 250 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of pearl millet during summer 2015. A perusal of the results of this study showed positive significant and strong genotypic and phenotypic correlations between grain yield per plant and plant height, number of productive tillers per plant, earhead length, earhead girth, single earhead weight, single earhead grain weight, 1000- grain weight and beta carotene content. Path coefficient analysis indicated that number of productive tillers per plant and single earhead grain weight had high direct effect on grain yield per plant. High indirect effect on grain yield per plant was caused by single earhead weight via single earhead grain weight and single earhead weight, single earhead grain weight and 1000- grain weight influences grain yield per plant through moderate positive indirect effect of number via productive tillers per plant. Based on the present results, it could be concluded that number of productive tillers per plant, earhead girth, single earhead weight and single earhead grain weight could be identified as the most important traits that are associated with grain yield in pearl millet. Hence these traits can be used as selection criteria for yield improvement in pearl millet.

Character association and path analysis in advanced breeding lines of rabi sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

The field experiment was carried out using advanced breeding lines of rabi sorghum to study association among the yield and its component traits, direct and indirect effects of traits on the yield. Association studies indicated that seed yield per plot showed significant positive correlation with traits viz., plant height (rp=+0.7243, rg=+0.7409), ear head length (rp=+0.6002, rg=+0.6021), 100 seed weight (rp=+0.1593, rg=+0.1880), fodder yield (rp=+0.9434, rg=+0.9476) and lodging percentage (rp=+0.5263, rg=+0.5646) at both phenotypic and genotypic level.Genotypic correlation was higher magnitude than phenotypic correlation. Revealed increase in ear head length will increase the seed yield. Partitioning of yield and yield components both at phenotypic and genotypic levels into direct and indirect effects revealed that positive direct effects of ear head length (Ppi=+0.2533, Pgi=+0.5241), ear head diameter (Ppi=+0.0669, Pgi=+0.2580), days to maturity (Ppi=+0.0338, Pgi=+0.1193), fodder yield (Ppi=+0.6484, Pgi=+0.7461) were relatively high and followed by less lodging percentage (Ppi=+0.1751, Pgi=+0.2263). Residual effects were Pr=0.1303 and Gr=0.0624 at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Indicating importance of these characters and can be strategically used to improve the seed yield of sorghum.

Stability analysis for yield and its attributing traits in advanced breeding lines of rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

An experiment was carried out involving twenty three advanced breeding lines along with two checks M 35-1 and Muguthi during rabi season 2012-13 at four locations. Observations were recorded on 10 different characters viz., plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), ear head length (cm), ear head diameter (cm), days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, 100 seed weight (g), fodder yield per plot (kg), seed yield per plot (kg), and lodging percentage. The pooled analysis of variance revealed that mean sum of squares due to genotypes was significant for ear head diameter, days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity and fodder yield, indicating presence of considerable amount of variability in the genotypes. The mean sum of square due to environment + (genotypes x environment) was significant for plant height, ear head length (cm), ear head diameter (cm), days to 50 per cent flowering, fodder yield per plot (kg), seed yield per plot (kg), and lodging percentage characters except stem diameter, days to maturity and 100 seed yield. On the basis of stability parameters a four genotypes viz., GS-6 (2364 kg/ha), GS-16 (2454 kg/ha), GS-22(2775 kg/ha) and GS-23(2978 kg/ha) were found most stable over Gulbarga, Raichur, Bellary and Malnoor environments of Hyderabad Karnataka region.

Combining ability studies for grain yield and its components in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.)

Sixty hybrids of Pearl millet were produced by crossing six male sterile lines with ten diverse inbred lines were studied for combining ability effects. The analysis of variance revealed significant difference between par­ents for all the characters studied. The estimates of combining ability variances suggested the importance of both additive and non-additive gene action in the control of most of the characters.The mean degree of dominance (σ 2 D / σ 2 A ) 0.5 was found greater than unity for characters viz ., productive tillers per plant, grain yield per plant, 1000 grain weight and earhead length, indicating the over dominance.The CGMS line JMSA-9904 was found as good general combiners for days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity and earhead length. The CGMS lines ICMA-98444 and ICMA-20041 were found to be good general combiner for productive tillers per plant and earhead girth but poor combiners for days to 50 % flowering. ICMA-97111 was average combiners for all the charcters. Three parents viz. , J-2340, J-2507 and J-2490 were good general combiner for grain yield. Among the sixty hybrids, 14 hybrids showed the best performance with significantly positive sca effect for grain yield. The cross ICMA-97111 x 236SB had significant and positive sca effects for grain yield per plant, earhead girth and days to maturity.

Response of Rabi sorghum to land configuration and nutrient management

An experiment was carried out to access the land configuration and nutrient management on rabi sorghum crop at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during 2012–13. The treatment consist of three treatment of each land configuration (Lx: Flat bed, L2: Raised bed and L3: Ridge and furrow) and nutrient management (N1: FYM @ 10 t/ha+ 50% RDF, N2: bio-compost @ 6 t/ha+ 50% RDF and N3: 100% RDF (80-40-00 NPK kg/ha)). The results revealed that different treatments of land configuration gave significant variation in most of the growth as well as yield attributes. Ridge and furrow method (L3) recorded the highest values for plant height, number of internodes per plant, girth of stem, length of ear head, girth of ear head, weight of grain per plant and test weight. Significantly the highest grain yield (34.38 q/ha) and fodder yield (93.03 q/ha) were recorded under ridge and furrow (L3) method of sowing. The maximum net realization of (Rs. 22589.67/ha) with BCR value of (2.77) was achieved in {100% RDF (N3)} treatments where crop was left for seed production after cut. The treatment 100% RDF (N3) recorded significantly higher grain yield (32.25 q/ha) remaining on par with bio-compost @ 6 t/ha+ 50% RDF (N2).

Maximising water productivity of wheat crop by adopting drip irrigation

The research work was carried out at ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal during 2011–14. The data were collected using standard procedure and were analyzed by using Fisher's analysis of variance technique of RBD. Initial interest in the use of drip irrigation for row crops like wheat was motivated by its very low water productivity with traditional methods of irrigation. Maximizing water productivity is one of the most important priorities in developing countries like India, where the ground water levels are at alarming stage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the wheat yield in response to change in drip emitter spacing and compare the water productivity and water saving with conventional irrigated systems. Five irrigation treatments were considered in the present experiment. The treatment details were: T1: Conventional practices, T2: System of wheat intensification, T3: System of wheat intensification with drip emitters spaced at 20 cm, T4: System of wheat intensification with drip emitters spaced at 30 cm and T5: System of wheat intensification with drip emitters spaced at 40 cm. The greatest plantheight, number of tillers per metre square, number of effective tillers, chlorophyll content and root length were recorded under SWI with drip irrigation at 20 cm emitters spacing (T3). Yield and yield contributing parameters were also higher with T3 as compared with conventional practice (T1) viz., number of grains per earhead, average earhead length, average earhead weight, average grain yield, straw yield and harvest index. Among the drip irrigation treatments, however, there was no significant difference of grain yield between T3 and T4 treatments indicating the drippers spaced at 30 cm could be recommended to lower the cost of the drip system in wheat crop.

Effect of green-belly stink bug, Dichelops furcatus (F.) on wheat yield and development

The green belly stink bug, Dichelops furcatus (F.) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is a pest of corn and soybean in southern Brazil. It also occurs on wheat, but information on its damage to this crop is limited. To determine the need for sustainable IPM programs, the impact of this bug on wheat production should be determined. Studies were conducted in the screenhouse with 1, 2 and 4 bugs caged for 16 days on single plants, cv. ‘BRS Parrudo’. During the vegetative period (plants ca. 25 cm tall), all infestation levels significantly reduced plant height and ear head length, but did not reduce grain yield. Feeding damage caused tissue necrosis on leaves. During the booting stage, grain yield was significantly reduced with 2 and 4 bugs per plant; ear heads were small, discolored and abnormally developed. In 2013 and 2014 field trials, plants were infested for 18 days with 2, 4 and 8 bugs per m2 at vegetative, booting, and milky grain stage. At these infestation levels, there was no significant reduction in grain yield. There was a significant decrease in the number of normal seedlings resulting from seeds exposed to 8 bugs per m2 at the milky grain stage. Results suggest that, in general, there is no need to control D. furcatus on wheat, unless numbers are ≥8 bugs per m2 during reproductive period.

Assessment of artificial inoculation methods for development of sorghum pokkah boeng caused by Fusarium subglutinans

Pokkah boeng is an emerging disease of sorghum causing economical loss to the crop. No sources of resistance or screening tools are available for this disease currently. Four methods of inoculation were assessed on four genotypes of sorghum for artificial development of pokkah boeng under field conditions during the post-rainy seasons of 2012 and 2013. Inoculation methods were foliar spray of spore suspension, stem injection of spore suspension with hypodermic needle, application of pathogen colonized sorghum grains into the whorl, and untreated control. Disease incidence and severity of pokkah boeng was recorded at both vegetative and reproductive crop stages. Multiseason data were analyzed using conventional as well as genotype + genotype-environment (GGE) biplot method to understand complex interactions between host and the treatments. Both disease incidence and severity of disease increased from vegetative to reproductive stage. Stem injection produced highest disease incidence (43.5%) and severity index (26.4%) followed by whorl application (incidence 31.3%; severity index 18.2%) and stem injection was more stable than whorl application across years. Which-won-where analysis showed that SLR 30 was the most susceptible variety across all inoculation methods. Studies on interrelationship among traits by conventional correlation analysis and biplot analysis revealed that grain yield, plant height and earhead length were affected by the disease. Stem injection developed high amount of disease and caused grain yield loss of 25.8%. To our knowledge this is the first instance where a suitable artificial inoculation method has been identified for screening sorghum genotypes for pokkah boeng resistance.

Impact of resource conservation technologies on soil health and productivity of wheat in rice-wheat cropping system

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of resource conservation technologies on soil health and productivity of wheat in rice-wheat cropping system in split plot design with three replications. The physico-chemical parameters of the soils like pH and EC both maximum decreased almost significantly over control under treatments T2 (Ploughing twice by Cultivator, allowed to decompose weeds for a week then puddling by cross ploughing and planking), T3(Summer ploughing onset of monsoon by mould bold plough to invert the soil once in three years followed by subsequent ploughing by cultivator to puddle the soil) and C5 (GM + Paddy straw @ 50 q/ha) and C6 (GM + Rice husk @ 50 q/ha). Soil data revealed a highly significant increase in organic carbon content along with available N, P2O5 and K2O content under treatments T3 and C6 and their interactions(T3×C6)over control. This might be attributed to the improvement in physico-chemical properties of the soils. The significant (P<0.05) increase in yield attributes and yields of wheat grain and straw over control was observed under influence of the treatments T3 and C6 and their interaction except height and length of ear head. These observations were confirmed by the positive and highly significant correlation of yield of wheat grain with available N (r=0.74**), available P2O5 (r = 0.64**), and available K2O (r = 0.52**). Deep ploughing and green manuring in addition with other organic residues (GM+ rice husk) individually and/ or in combination improved the soil health significantly.

Studies on Effect of Physical and Chemical Mutagens in <i>Sorghum</i> (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> (L.) Moench) in M<sub>2</sub> Generation

Seeds of Sorghum (sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Variety CSV – 23. Were mutagenesis with gamma rays and EMS to determine their mutagenic sensitivity in morphological and yield characters. The spectrum of Mutation and induced variability for various quantitative and yield traits were observed in M2 generation. Plant height (cm),total number of leaves, leaf length (cm), leaf width(cm), stem girth (cm),Days taken to first flowering (days),ear head length(cm),ear head width(cm), Grain weight(gm),100 seed weight(gm), Biomass weight(gm)

Studies on Effect of Physical and Chemical Mutagens in <i>Sorghum</i> (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> (L.) Moench) in M<sub>2</sub> Generation

Seeds of Sorghum (sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) Variety CSV – 23. Were mutagenesis with gamma rays and EMS to determine their mutagenic sensitivity in morphological and yield characters. The spectrum of Mutation and induced variability for various quantitative and yield traits were observed in M2 generation. Plant height (cm),total number of leaves, leaf length (cm), leaf width(cm), stem girth (cm),Days taken to first flowering (days),ear head length(cm),ear head width(cm), Grain weight(gm),100 seed weight(gm), Biomass weight(gm)

Path analysis for grain yield in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) link )

Path coefficient analysis was studied in 65 genotypes of barnyard millet to find out the association studies of characters and their direct and indirect effects on grain yield/plant. Results exhibited that single earhead weight had maximum direct effects on grain yield/plant followed by straw yield/plant, earhead length and plant height. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v44i1.22739 Bangladesh J. Bot. 44(1): 147-150, 2015 (March)

Effect of Seed Invigoration with Nitrate Salts on Morpho-Physiological and Growth Parameters of Wheat Crop Sown in Different Dates in its Cropping Season

A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of seed invigoration treatments with Mg (NO3)2 and KNO3 in two wheat varieties viz. HUW-234 and HUW-468 under three different dates of sowing i.e. timely (D1), late (D2) and very late (D3). The parameters like plant height (PH), number of tillers, number of leaves, leaf area (LA), dry weight, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), length of ear head, number of grain per ear and grain yield per plant were highest with nitrate treatment T1 [Mg (NO3)2] whereas relative growth rate (RGR) and net assimilation rate (NAR) were highest with T2 [KNO3]. Treatment T1 recorded minimum days to 50% flowering and maximum days to physiological maturity in comparison to T0 [control]. The plant raised under D1 took maximum days to 50% flowering, days to physiological maturity and recorded highest dry weight, pH, number of tillers, number of leaves, LA, LAI, CGR, NAR while lowest duration was recorded in D3. However, the value of RGR was found highest in D3 than D2 and D1. Among the variety, HUW-234 performed better than the HUW-468 for all the characters. Seed invigoration with nitrate showed an improvement in overcoming the late sown stress in wheat.

Association mapping of agro-morphological characters among the global collection of finger millet genotypes using genomic SSR markers.

Identification of alleles responsible for various agro-morphological characters is a major concern to further improve the finger millet germplasm. Forty-six genomic SSRs were used for genetic analysis and population structure analysis of a global collection of 190 finger millet genotypes and fifteen agro-morphological characters were evaluated. The overall results showed that Asian genotypes were smaller in height, smaller flag leaf length, less basal tiller number, early flowering and early maturity nature, small ear head length, and smaller in length of longest finger. The 46 SSRs yielded 90 scorable alleles and the polymorphism information content values varied from 0.292 to 0.703 at an average of 0.442. The gene diversity was in the range of 0.355 to 0.750 with an average value of 0.528. The 46 genomic SSR loci grouped the 190 finger millet genotypes into two major clusters based on their geographical origin by the both phylogenetic clustering and population structure analysis by STRUCTURE software. Association mapping of QTLs for 15 agro-morphological characters with 46 genomic SSRs resulted in identification of five markers were linked to QTLs of four traits at a significant threshold (P) level of ≤ 0.01 and ≤ 0.001. The QTL for basal tiller number was strongly associated with the locus UGEP81 at a P value of 0.001 by explaining the phenotypic variance (R (2)) of 10.8%. The QTL for days to 50% flowering was linked by two SSR loci UGEP77 and UGEP90, explained 10 and 8.7% of R (2) respectively at a P value of 0.01. The SSR marker, FM9 found to have strong association to two agro-morphological traits, flag leaf width (P-0.001, R(2)-14.1 %) and plant height (P-0.001, R(2)-11.2%). The markers linked to the QTLs for above agro-morphological characters found in the present study can be further used for cloning of the full length gene, fine mapping and their further use in the marker assisted breeding programmes for introgression of alleles into locally well adapted germplasm.

Heterosis for Grain Yield and Its Components in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucumL.)

Twelve pearl millet hybrids were evaluated along with two checks (RHRBH 9808 and AHB 1666) at three locations in a Randomized Block Design, with three replications for identification of superior hybrids based on standard heterosis. The magnitude of standard heterosis varied from cross to cross for all the characters studied. High standard heterosis was observed for number of effective tillers per plant, grain yield per plant, ear head girth and number of grains per cm2; while moderate to low heterosis over standard checks was found for plant height (cm), 1000-grain weight (g), ear head length (cm), total number of tillers per plant, fodder yield per plant (g), days to maturity and days to 50% flowering. The highest positive standard heterosis for grain yield per plant was 70.81%. Heterosis for grain yield might have resulted from heterosis for its component traits, mainly, number effective tiller per plant, ear head girth and number of grains per cm2. The crosses viz., MS 99111 A × AIB 214, MS 88004 A × R 451-1, MS 94111 A × IC 1153, MS 88004 A × PPC 7 and MS 88004 A × AIB 214 were promising on the basis of mean performance and standard heterosis.

English

The development of crops adapted to the semi-arid and arid regions would enhance food security in Africa. As part of research towards ensuring food security, field trials were carried out to evaluate the performance of sixteen hybrids of drought tolerant Quantitative trait loci (QTL) introgression lines of pearl millet in a Guinea-Savannah zone of Ghana, where the crop is one of the cereals popularly cultivated by farmers as a staple. The hybrids were obtained from ICRISAT in India and the validation trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with (4) replicates. All the sixteen lines (843A × H77/833-2, ICML03048 × H77/833-2, ICML03050 × H77/833-2, ICML03051 × H77/833 -2, ICML03052 × H77/833-2, ICML03056 × H77/833-2, ICML03057 × H77/833-2, 841B × H77/833-2, 863B × H77/833-2, 843A × ICMR01029, 843A × ICMR01031, 843A × ICMR 01040, 843A × ICMR 01046, 843A × ICMR 01042, 843A × ICMR 01044 and 843A × PRLT2/89-33) were able to withstand the environmental conditions during the trial period. Three entries (843A × PRLT 2/89-33, 843A × ICMR 01046 and 843A × ICMR 01029) took fewer days to boot. Two hybrids (843A × H77/833-2 and 843A × PRLT 2/89-33) had the highest values of 100-seed weight. The hybrid 863B × H77/833-2 was outstanding in terms of plant height, fresh and dry stover weights, ear head length and diameter; 100-seed weight, head yield and grain yield. It is, therefore, concluded that marker-assisted selection could be used to breed for high yielding millet cultivars in drought prone savannah agro-ecological zones of northern Ghana to enhance yields and improve food security.

Genetic Variability for Panicle Characters in Indigenous and Exotic Barnyard Millet(Echinochloa frumentacea(Roxb.) Link) Germplasm Over Environment

Total 65 barnyard millet indigenous and exotic accessions were evaluated for genetic variability for eight panicle traits viz., earhead length, earhead width, lower raceme length, number of racemes, single earhead weight, grain weight per earhead, thousand grain weight and grain yield per plant at four different environments. A wide range of variability both at genotypic and phenotypic level was observed for all the characters studied. The difference between PCV and GCV was low for all the traits studied, which indicated little influence of environment over phenotype of the traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance observed in the present study for the traits viz., earhead width, grain weight per earhead, single earhead weight, grain yield per plant and earhead length at four locations indicates that these traits are under the influence of additive gene action. Selection based on these characters would be effective for future barnyard millet crop improvement programme.

Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of grain yield in pearl millet

A set of 64 genotypes comprising of 48 F1s along with four male sterile lines and 12 pollinators were studied for genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance of grain yield and its nine components in pearl millet at Jamnagar during kharif-2009. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the ten characters studied. The characters, namely, days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, ear head girth, ear head length, ear head weight, fodder yield per plant and grain yield per plant were less affected by environment showing close correspondence between genotypic co-efficient of variation and phenotypic co-efficient of variation. The variability analysis revealed that ear head weight, fodder yield per plant and grain yield per plant had high magnitude of phenotypic range, genotypic co-efficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance expressed as percentage of mean thereby suggesting the importance of additive gene action. Hence, these characters can be improved through simple selection process.