Performance and Stability of Pearl Millet Varieties for Grain Yield and Micronutrients in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of India

Abstract

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is grown under both arid and semi-arid conditions in India, where other cereals are hard to grow. Pearl millet cultivars, hybrids, and OPVs (open pollinated varieties) are tested and released by the All India Coordinated Research Project on Pearl Millet (AICRP-PM) across three zones (A1, A, and B) that are classified based on rainfall pattern. Except in locations with extreme weather conditions, hybrids dominate pearl millet growing areas, which can be attributed to hybrid vigor and the active role of the private sector. The importance of OPVs cannot be ruled out, owing to wider adaptation, lower input cost, and timely seed availability to subsidiary farmers cultivating this crop. This study was conducted to scrutinize the presently used test locations for evaluation of pearl millet OPVs across India, identify the best OPVs across locations, and determine the variation in grain Fe and Zn contents across locations in these regions. Six varieties were evaluated across 20 locations in A1 and A (pooled as A) and B zones along with three common checks and additional three zonal adapted checks in the respective zones during the 2019 rainy season. Recorded data on yield and quality traits were analyzed using genotype main effects and genotype × environment interaction biplot method. The genotype × environment (G × E) interaction was found to be highly significant for all the grain yield and agronomic traits and for both micronutrients (iron and zinc). However, genotypic effect (G) was four (productive tillers) to 49 (grain Fe content) times that of G × E interaction effect for various traits across zones that show the flexibility of OPVs. Ananthapuramu is the ideal test site for selecting pearl millet cultivars effectively for adaptation across India, while Ananthapuramu, Perumallapalle, and Gurugram can also be used as initial testing locations. OPVs MP 599 and MP 600 are identified as ideal genotypes, because they showed higher grain and fodder yields and stability compared with other cultivars. Iron and zinc concentration showed highly significant positive correlation (across environment = 0.83; p < 0.01), indicating possibility of simultaneous effective selection for both traits. Three common checks were found to be significantly low yielders than the test entries or zonal checks in individual zones and across India, indicating the potential of genetic improvement through OPVs.

Trait Selection for Yield Improvement in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica Beauv.) under Climate Change in the North China Plain

“…The correlation analysis between grain yield and drought resistance index with physiological factors and agronomic traits could be used to select new varieties with traits under different water supply conditions, which could reduce the negative effects of water deficiency. Sanjana Reddy et al [30] pointed out that the interaction between variety and environment was highly significant for the grain yield of pearl millet. In India, from the early 1950s to 2010, the development and diffusion of improved varieties along with suitable agronomic practices facilitated productivity, which increased grain yield from 430 kg ha −1 to 1079 kg ha −1 over a period of four decades [31].…”

Yield stability analysis of pearl millet genotypes in arid region of India using AMMI and GGE biplot

“…612 is suggested for cultivation in a wide range of conditions and is considered one of the best genotypes for commercial cultivation on a large scale in rainfed situations of arid regions. It is well recognized that OPVs in pearl millet produce more consistent yields, are more widely adapted than hybrids and are less susceptible to pests and diseases (Sanjana Reddy et al, 2021). Therefore, improving OPVs for grain yield has a positive impact on income sustainability and economic potential of farmers' living on the margins.…”

“…In addition to drought and terminal heat stress, low soil fertility, strong wind speeds, shallow rooting depth, moderate slopes and salinity are the major constraints for pearl millet productivity. Therefore, the varieties or hybrids evaluated at this location are considered ideal for cultivation across the regions and seasons as reported earlier by Shanthi et al (2016) andSanjana Reddy et al (2021). Evaluation of various pearl millet genotypes under diverse environments and identifying environmentally stable and productive genotypes, is crucial and one of the prime research requirements.…”

Editorial: Sorghum and pearl millet as climate resilient crops for food and nutrition security, volume II

“…These results can facilitate successful breeding for sorghum and pearl millet in the near future. To better understand these crops, combined efforts among upstream research, variety/genotype improvement, and field management are required ( Weckwerth et al., 2020 ; Sanjana Reddy et al, 2021 ; Ghatak et al., 2023 ). Finally, we greatly appreciate and sincerely thank the efforts of the journal editors, peer reviewers, and authors.…”