Drought tolerance and grain yield performance of genetically diverse pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] seed and restorer parental lines

Authors: RAMALINGAM, AJAY - Kansas State University; RATHINAGIRI, AKILAN - Srm Institute Of Science And Technology; Serba, Desalegn; MADASAMY, PARANI - Srm Institute Of Science And Technology; MUTHURAJAN, RAVEENDRAN - Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; PRASAD, VARA - Kansas State University; PERUMAL, RAMASAMY - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2024
Publication Date: 5/29/2024
Citation: Ramalingam, A.P., Rathinagiri, A., Serba, D.D., Madasamy, P., Muthurajan, R., Prasad, V.P., Perumal, R. 2024. Drought tolerance and grain yield performance of genetically diverse pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] seed and restorer parental lines. Crop Science. 2(21271):1-17. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21271.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21271

Interpretive Summary: Pearl millet is a climate-smart crop that holds promise for meeting the future food, fodder, and nutritional security needs in the face of climate-change. A total of 29 seed parents (B) and 27 restorer (R) lines of pearl millet were evaluated for two years in Hays, Kansas irrigated, and drought stressed (dryland) environments. For the majority of the eight variables under investigation, including grain yield per plant, number of seeds per plant, and 1000 seed weight, statistically significant variations were found between irrigated and dryland treatments, years, and the parental lines. The best drought-adaptable parental lines were identified by further analysis utilizing genotype + genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplot, multi-trait stability index (MTSI) based on percent decrease, and rank summation index (RSI). These analyses suggest that six pollinator lines (ARCH36R, ARCH68R, ARCH22R, ARCH63R, ARCH50R, and ARCH60R) and seven seed parents (ARCH41B, ARCH01B, ARCH13B, ARCH44B, ARCH09B, ARCH24B, and ARCH30B) can be used as potential parents to create drought-tolerant and high-yielding pearl millet hybrids in all possible combinations for the semi-arid tropics.

Technical Abstract: Pearl millet is a cereal crop widely grown in arid and semi-arid environments and has a great potential as a climate-smart crop to meet the future demand for food, fodder, and nutritional security. This study was aimed at identifying drought tolerant pearl millet inbreds for hybrid development. A total of 29 seed parents (B) and 27 restorer (R) lines were included in this study. Field experiments were conducted in a split-plot in randomized complete block design with three replications for two years. The control (irrigated) and drought stress (dryland) treatments were assigned to main plots and the genotypes were assigned to the sub-plots. Principal component analysis and neighbor joining clustering showed a wide genetic diversity and distinct separation between B and R-lines. Eight agronomic traits collected during the entire growth period showed significant difference between the lines, treatments, and years. A genotype plus genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplot indicated significant environment and treatment effect on parents for grain yield per plant, number of seeds per plant and 1000 seed weight. Rank summation index (RSI) based on percent reduction and multi-trait stability index (MTSI) analyses for these three traits were performed and identified the best adaptable genotypes for drought tolerance. Based on these analyses, seven seed parents (ARCH41B, ARCH01B, ARCH13B, ARCH44B, ARCH09B, ARCH24B and ARCH30B) and six pollinators (ARCH36R, ARCH68R, ARCH22R, ARCH63R, ARCH50R and ARCH60R) lines can be used as potential parents to develop drought tolerant and high yielding grain and forage type pearl millet hybrids in all possible combinations for semi-arid tropics.