Effect of Four Sowing Date Environments on Growth, Development and Yield Potentials of 15 Pearl Millet Cultivars (Pennisetum americanum L Leeke) During Autumn-Winter Seasons in Marin, N.L., Mexico

A study has been undertaken on the growth, development, andyield potentials of 15 pearl millet cultivars showing a largegenetic variability in growth parameters in different sowingenvironments Sowing date had a significant effect on growthstages (GS1, GS2, GS3), thermal units accumulated in respectivegrowth stages, days to flowering, and yield components of thepearl millet cultivars Significant genotype x sowing date interactionswere also observed for the majority of the variables mentioned. A decline in both temperature and length of photopenod oversuccessive sowing dates from July to September had a drasticeffect on phenology and yield potentials of the pearl milletcultivars. Higher grain yield in the July sowing experiment, compared tothose for other sowing dates, could be related to a longer photopenod(> 13 h), higher temperatures, and a significant differencebetween day and night temperatures. Key words: Environment, growth, yield potentials, thermal units, pearl millet