Identification of new stable and high iron rich fertility restorers in pearl millet

Abstract

Biofortification of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) with improved iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) will have great impact as it is an indispensable component of nutritional security of inhabitants of arid and semi-arid regions. Ten genotypes along with checks were evaluated in RBD in six locations during kharif, 2016 under rainfed conditions. Significant differences were observed in genotype, environment and genotype × environment interaction mean squares for grain Fe and Zn contents, indicating differential nutrient accumulation by the genotypes. The first two principal components obtained in AMMI analysis were significant and cumulatively explained the total variation were 81.47 % for Fe and 73.97 % for Zn. A positive and moderately high correlation (r=0.6) between Fe and Zn contents suggests good prospects of simultaneous improvement for both micronutrients. Among the ten genotypes, PPMI 953 was found to be more stable with high mean Fe (90 ppm) and Zn (59 ppm) contents. On crossing with designated A lines of pearl millet, the line PPMI 953 found to be restorer for A1 system with complete fertility restoration of F1 panicle of the cross, ICMA(1) 863 x PPMI 953 under bagged condition and resulting F1 with 78-84% fertility measured by seed setting % under bag. The F2 individuals showed 9:7 fertility-sterility ratio (χ 2 value=0.002, P value=0.964). The promising line, PPMI 953 may be used as source for further genetic improvement with respect to grain micronutrient content or can be directly used as male parent in development of high iron pearl millet hybrids.

Genetics of fertility restoration for the A1 cytoplasmic genic male sterility system in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)

“…These results are in perfect agreement with the findings of Siebert (1982), who reported that two major dominant complementary genes are responsible for fertility restoration of A 1 cytoplasm in pearl millet. A similar gene action was also reported by Singhal et al (2019) in the F 2 population of one cross of pearl millet. Similar results were also reported in other crops like rice (Hossain et al 2010), sorghum (Erichsen and Ross 1963), and maize (Duvick 1956).…”

Inheritance of fertility restoration of A4 cytoplasm in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

“…Govindaraj et al, 2018 reported allelic relationship between fertility restorer genes responsible for fertility restoration in A 1 and A 4 cytoplasm. Singhal et. al.…”

Stage Specific Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis to Reveal Gene Networks Regulating Iron and Zinc Content in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum Glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

“…The iron concentration in the genotype PPMI 953 is su cient enough to ful ll the desired iron concentration of daily human need [35]. Ample work has been carried to enhance iron and zinc content in pearl millet [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43], however little or negligible work has been carried out to understand the mechanism or pathways involved in high Fe and Zn containing genotypes.…”