Author
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Submitted to: Intsormil
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2003 Publication Date: 1/15/2004 Citation: Wilson, J.P. 2004. Breeding pearl millet for improved stability, performance, and pest resistance. International Sorghum and Millet CRSP 2003 Annual Report, INTSORMIL publication 03-06. pg. 73-76. (Technical report). Interpretive Summary: The goals of this research are to improve the productivity, yield stability, and pest resistance of pearl millet cultivars. Achieving these goals require 1) identifying constraints limiting production or utilization within and across environments, 2) acquiring and evaluating new germplasm for desirable characteristics, 3) crossing selected germplasm with regionally adapted breeding lines or cultivars, 4) selecting and evaluating improved progeny as potential new cultivars. In the first year of this project, progress toward meeting these objectives has been made. Project collaborators at multiple locations have been identified. These individuals have contributed cultivars and experimental germplasm for evaluating genotype x environment interactions in grain yield, quality, and disease and pest resistance. Collaborators have reached consensus on project objectives, methods and time-table to achieve these objectives. A replicated set of selected pearl millet germplasm was distributed among collaborators. Multilocation experiments have been established in Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. The germplasm is being assessed for characteristics that contribute directly or indirectly to stability of grain yield and quality. In an effort to expand the diversity in the breeding populations being selected at collaborating locations, crosses have been made between several African cultivars and U.S. breeding lines to develop new germplasm in the A1 and A4 male sterile cytoplasms, and also with corresponding genes for fertility restoration. The introduced accessions are being evaluated for pests and diseases of importance to growers in the U.S. and in Africa. Sources of resistance to leaf blight, rust, and root knot nematode have been identified in the African pearl millets. Technical Abstract: The goals of this research are to improve the productivity, yield stability, and pest resistance of pearl millet cultivars. Achieving these goals require 1) identifying constraints limiting production or utilization within and across environments, 2) acquiring and evaluating new germplasm for desirable characteristics, 3) crossing selected germplasm with regionally adapted breeding lines or cultivars, 4) selecting and evaluating improved progeny as potential new cultivars. In the first year of this project, progress toward meeting these objectives has been made. Project collaborators at multiple locations have been identified. These individuals have contributed cultivars and experimental germplasm for evaluating genotype x environment interactions in grain yield, quality, and disease and pest resistance. Collaborators have reached consensus on project objectives, methods and time-table to achieve these objectives. A replicated set of selected pearl millet germplasm was distributed among collaborators. Multilocation experiments have been established in Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. The germplasm is being assessed for characteristics that contribute directly or indirectly to stability of grain yield and quality. In an effort to expand the diversity in the breeding populations being selected at collaborating locations, crosses have been made between several African cultivars and U.S. breeding lines to develop new germplasm in the A1 and A4 male sterile cytoplasms, and also with corresponding genes for fertility restoration. The introduced accessions are being evaluated for pests and diseases of importance to growers in the U.S. and in Africa. Sources of resistance to leaf blight, rust, and root knot nematode have been identified in the African pearl millets. |
