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CROP BREEDING, GENETICS & CYTOLOGY

Total and Seasonal Distribution of Dry Matter Yields for Pearl Millet x Wild Grassy Subspecies Hybrids

USDA-ARS, P O Box 248, Univ. of Georgia Coastal Plain Exp. Stn., Tifton, GA 31793 USA

whanna{at}tifton.cpes.peachnet.edu

The wild grassy subspecies Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. subspecies monodii (Maire) Brunken has been used as a source of germplasm for improved disease resistance and cytoplasmic diversity for improving pearl millet [P. glaucum (L.) R. Br.] cultivars. The objective of this research was to evaluate a portion of the monodii germplasm to determine if this germplasm could be used to increase the dry matter yield and extend the growing period of pearl millet forage hybrids. Seventy-nine monodii accessions from Niger, Mali, Senegal, and Burkina Faso were crossed with Tift 85DA₁, a cytoplasmic-nuclear-male-sterile (CMS) pearl millet used in commercial hybrid production. These hybrids along with `Tifleaf 2' (a popular commercial hybrid) and `Gahi 3' were tested for 2 yr on a fine, loamy, thermic Plinthic Kandiudult soil at Tifton, GA, latitude north 31.48° and longitude west 83.53°. The best experimental hybrid yielded up to 31% more dry matter than Tifleaf 2. A significant hybrid x year effect on total yield indicated that some of the hybrids showed a differential response during the 2 yr. Tifleaf 2 produced between 23 and 32% of its total yield in the last harvest, whereas a number of the experimental hybrids produced significantly more (up to 50%) of their dry matter in the last harvest. The experimental hybrids were consistent across years in their superior late-season production. Variation was also observed among hybrids for production of dry matter in the first harvest. Early production would be especially valuable in areas that have distinct wet and dry seasons. This research indicates that genes for enhancing level and distribution of yield in cultivated pearl millet are present in the wild grassy subspecies, monodii.

Abbreviations: CMS, cytoplasmic-nuclear-male-sterile

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