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Hybrid Vigor in Forage Yields of Crosses between Pearl Millet Inbreds and their Mutants¹

The object of this research was to ascertain if forage yields of F₁ hybrids between pearl millet inbreds and their simply inherited mutants will exhibit hybrid vigor. F₁ hybrids between normal parents and 102 induced recessive mutants in pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke] inbreds ‘Tift 13’ (T13), ‘Tift 18’ (T18), ‘Tift 23’ (T23), and ‘Tift 239’ (T239) and two dominant mutants transferred with four backcrosses to T13, T18, and T23 were compared with their normal parents in precise forage yield trials on a Fuquay loamy sand for 1 to 5 years to detect evidence of hybrid vigor. Three recessive mutants, T13 orange node, T18 early, and T23 stubby head, in F₁ hybrids were compared with their normal parents for 5, 5 and 2 years, respectively. They increased forage yields over those of their parents 34.2, 38.2, and 21.7%, respectively. In similar F₁ hybrid tests, a dominant sunred mutant significantly reduced forage yield in T23 for 4 years and a dominant purple mutant increased forage yield in T13: and reduced it in T23 for 5 years. Ninety-nine other iinduced recessive mutants evaluated in similar tests for 1 to 4 years failed to increase forage yields over those of their normal parent. Thirty-nine of these in Fx hybrids reduced forage yields in 1-year trials and 25 reduced yields in 2-year trials. Simply inherited mutants capable o:E giving heterotic forage yields in pearl millet can occur at low frequency but intermating unrelated inbreds is a more efficient method of producing high yielding hybrids.

Key Words: Pennisetum americanum • F₁ hybrid

² Research geneticists, AR, SEA, USDA, and the Univ. of Georgia, College of Agric. Exp. Stns., Coastal Plain Station, Agronomy Dep., Tifton, GA 31794; and research geneticist, AR, SEA, USDA, Plant Genetics and Germplasm Institute, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Received for publication March 31, 1980.