Author
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Jauhar, Prem |
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Hanna, Wayne |
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Submitted to: Advances in Agronomy
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 10/23/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Pearl millet is the most important constituent of the genus Pennisetum. It is the sixth most important cereal crop in the world, following wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sorghum. As poor man's bread, it sustains a large proportion of the populace of Africa and Asia. Pearl millet with 14 large chromosomes is an ideal organism for cytogenetic and breeding work. The first book on cytogenetics and breeding of pearl millet (Jauhar, 1981) gave a considerable impetus to research on this important crop plant. It has been used not only in cytogenetic but also molecular work. Both aneuploids and molecular markers have been employed in gene mapping. Using cytoplasmic-genic male sterile lines, several high yielding grain hybrids have also been produced. The purpose of this article is to summarize the information on cytogenetics and genetics of pearl millet mostly since the publication of the above book. This information will be useful to researchers in the field of classical and molecular cytogenetics and to practical plant breeders. Technical Abstract: Pearl millet is the most important constituent of the genus Pennisetum. It is the sixth most important cereal crop in the world, following wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sorghum. As poor man's bread, it sustains a large proportion of the populace of Africa and Asia. Pearl millet with 14 large chromosomes is an ideal organism for cytogenetic and breeding work. The first book on cytogenetics and breeding of pearl millet (Jauhar, 1981) gave a considerable impetus to research on this important crop plant. It has been used not only in cytogenetic but also molecular work. Both aneuploids and molecular markers have been employed in gene mapping. Using cytoplasmic-genic male sterile lines, several high yielding grain hybrids have also been produced. The purpose of this article is to summarize the information on cytogenetics and genetics of pearl millet mostly since the publication of the above book. This information will be useful to researchers in the field of classical and molecular cytogenetics and to practical plant breeders. |
