Adaptation Pattern and Genetic Potential of Indian Pearl Millet Named Landraces Conserved at the ICRISAT Genebank

Abstract

A total of 692 accessions belonging to 32 named landraces, adapted to a latitude range of 8.8 o N to 30.90 o N and originating in nine provinces of India were used to study their adaptation pattern and genetic potential. A clear pattern regarding association of latitude, climate at collection sites, adaptation of landraces and the agronomic performance was observed. Hierarchical cluster analysis using eight agronomic traits resulted in four clusters of accessions. Cluster 1 accessions flowered early and cluster 3 flowered late. Cluster 1 and cluster 4 accessions produced more tillers. Important sources identified were IP 13465 for early flowering and short height; IP 15273 for high tillering, high seed iron and zinc content and downy mildew resistance; IP 3531 for high seed protein content, downy mildew and rust resistance; IP 15285, IP 15288, IP 15290, IP 15301, and IP 15351 for high tillering.

African and Asian origin pearl millet populations: Genetic diversity pattern and its association with yield heterosis

“…Recent characterization studies based on various agromorphological traits in pearl millet have reported significant variability among both African germplasm (Bashir, Ali, Ali, Melchinger, et al., 2014; Pucher et al., 2015; Sattler et al., 2018) and Asian germplasm (Kumari et al., 2016; Upadhyaya, Reddy, Ramachandran, Kumar, & Ahmed, 2016). Molecular marker‐based studies conducted to date have also reported significant diversity among African populations and landraces (Adeoti et al., 2017; Bashir et al., 2015; Diack et al., 2017; Hu et al., 2015; Jika et al., 2017; McBenedict, Chimwamurombe, Kwembeya, & Maggs‐Kolling, 2016), and also in Asian landraces (Chowdari, Davierwala, Gupta, Ranjekar, & Govila, 1998; Vom Brocke, Christinck, Weltzien, Presterl, & Geiger, 2003).…”

“…Recent characterization studies based on various agromorphological traits in pearl millet have reported significant variability among both African germplasm (Bashir, Ali, Ali, Melchinger, et al, 2014;Pucher et al, 2015;Sattler et al, 2018) and Asian germplasm (Kumari et al, 2016;Upadhyaya, Reddy, Ramachandran, Kumar, & Ahmed, 2016). Molecular marker-based studies conducted to date have also reported significant diversity among African populations and landraces (Adeoti et al, 2017;…”