Genetic variation in grain-filling ability in dwarf pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] restorer lines |
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Authors: | F R Bidinger S Chandra D S Raju |
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Institution: | (1) Genetic Resources and Enhancement Program, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, ICRISAT Patancheru PO, Andhra Pradesh 502 324, India e-mail: icrisat@cgiar.org, IN |
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Abstract: | The d2 dwarfing gene in pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] carries a yield penalty due to an associated reduction in individual grain mass. This reduction, however, varies
with genetic background, indicating that it may be possible to select against poor grain filling in d2 dwarfbackgrounds, given an effective measure of grain filling. This study was conducted to assess genetic variability forgrain-filling
ability (in contrast to simply grain size),and its relationship to grain yield,indwarf pearl milletrestorer (R) lines. The
grain-filling ability (GFA) of an individual R line was defined as the least squares estimate of its effect on individual
grain mass in the analysis of variance, following a linear covariance adjustment for grain number. The study was based on
93dwarf hybrids involving31 d2 dwarfR-lines, evaluated over 3 years. Half of the variation in individual grain mass in the 93 hybrids was related to variation
in grain number. Covariance adjustment in individual grain mass for grain number resulted in highly significant differences
among hybrids and R lines in GFA. The R-line combining ability for GFA accounted for 26% of the variation in the R-line combining
ability for yield, compared to 46% for the combining ability for grain number, and just 8% for the combining ability of individual
grain mass. The combining ability for GFA was independent of the combining ability for various pre-flowering effects, including
grain number, but was related to the combining ability for individual grain mass and harvest index. Improvement in individual
grain mass achieved through selection for GFA should translate directly into yield improvement, whereasimprovement by direct
selectionfor individual grain mass is less-likely to do so.
Received: 9 April 2000 / Accepted: 16 May 2000 |
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Keywords: | Pearl millet Grain-filling ability Grain yield Restorer lines |
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