Evaluation of newly developed male sterile lines and restorer lines for their combining ability in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Sr.)

Abstract

Pearl millet is grown on about 9.62 million hectares in arid and semi-arid regions of India, which 15 nearly 40% of the world area for this cereal. It is the fourth most important cereal crop of this country, and is grown chiefly in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana, which account for 90% of the area. While the area is on the decline, the total production and productivity of pearl millet In India are on the increase, mainly attributed to the cultivation of improved cultivars. All pearl millet hybrids cultivated in India are based on the A, cytoplasm. When devastating epidemics of downy mildew caused by Selerospora graminieola (sacc.) Schroet, nearly wiped out the crop in the 1970's following the introduction of hybrids, A1 cytoplasm was linked with the susceptibility to this disease [1]. However, studies shown by Anand Kumar et al. [2], Yadav et al. [3], and Dave [4] indicate that the main reason for downy mildew out break was due to the lack of genetic diversity among cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines and elite restorers rather than any deleterious effects of the A1 cytoplasm Itself. The present study was therefore, attempted to assess the combining ability of a set of newly developed CMS lines and restorer lines to identify superior cross combinations for further commercial exploitation.