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Inheritance and Utilization of Five Dwarfs in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum typhoides) Breeding¹

Height measurements were made on over 39,000 parent, F₁, F₂, and backcross plants of hybrids involving five dwarf and four normal inbreds of pearl millet, grown in replicated randomized blocks. F₁ hybrids between four of the dwarfs were as tall as normal x dwarf hybrids, proving that these dwarfs carried different recessive genes for dwarfness. One dwarf x dwarf hybrid was little taller than its taller dwarf parent, suggesting that both carried similar dwarf genes. Most dwarf x normal F₁ hybrids were significantly taller (up to 37%) than their normal parents. Inheritance of dwarfness in D₁ and D₂ appeared to be conditioned largely by one or two recessive genes. Near-normal F₂ distribution curves and minimum-gene-number estimates indicated that dwarfness in D₃, D₄, and D₅ was controlled by more than two recessive genes. When transferred to a near-isogenic background, dwarfness in D₁ and D₂ was controlled by single but different recessive genes, named d₁ and d₂, respectivel.

Gahi-2 seed, produced by harvesting all seed from a field planted to a mixture of equal numbers of seeds of D₁, D₂, D₃, and D₄, contains about 75% of tall hybrids and yields nearly as much as Gahi-1. Cytoplasmic malesterile dwarfs can be used as females to facilitate singlecross seed production. They will give tall hybrids if tall or different dwarf males are used. By using males carrying the same dwarf genes, short, extra-leafy, high-quality forage hybrids can be produced.

² Principal Genetics, Crops Research Divisions, ARS, USDA, and the University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Georgia, and Assistant Statistican, Computer Center, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, respectively.

Received for publication August 30, 1965.

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