RECURRENT SELECTION IN PEARL-MILLET FOR IMPROVING STAND ESTABLISHMENTAT HIGH-TEMPERATURE

Inadequate stand establishment can be a major constraint to high grain and fodder yields of pearl miller (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) in the semi-arid tropics. In this study, two laboratory screening proced ures designed to improve components of stand establishment were evalua ted. In the first procedure the ability of seedlings to emerge from th e soil at 45 degrees C was tested and in the second procedure the abil ity of seeds to germinate at 45 degrees C was measured. Two cycles of recurrent selection were conducted with each procedure in the Higrop a nd Senpop pearl millet gene pools. The resultant populations were eval uated to measure the efficacy of the screening procedures. Selection f or increased emergence was effective in the C-0 of Higrop. When emerge nce percentage was averaged across Higrop and Senpop, recurrent select ion increased emergence percentage ty 7.4 % petcycle. In future, the s ize of the emergence screening units and number of seeds screened per progeny tested should be increased. The germination selection procedur e was ineffective.