MASS SELECTION AND GRAIN-YIELD OF IMPROVE D POPULATION IN PEARL-MILLET (PENNISETUM-TYPHOIDEUM RICH)

Mass selections for germination at low temperature, heavy grain weight and early heading were applied in a pearl millet population. Selectio n for short plant height was also applied by the ear-to-row method. He ritability estimated from the genetic gain were 0.26, 0.04 and 0.77 fo r germination, grain weight and heading, respectively, No genetic gain was obtained for plant height. Grain yield of original population (C0 ), population after one cycle of selection (C1) and two cycles of sele ction (C2) for early heading were compared, Yield was 371 similar to 5 11 gm(-2) for May planting and 164 similar to 239 gm(-2) for August pl anting. The population selected for early heading had more ears and a higher grain yield than C0. The difference between C1 and C2 was not s ignificant. No significant interactions for traits studied between pla nting density and cycle of selections were detected.