EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF POLLEN SHEDDERS ON PRODUCTIVITY OF PEARL-MILLET (PENNISETUM-GLAUCUM) HYBRIDS

Six combinations of pollen shedders, created artificially by blending the seed of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br, emend. Stuntz ] hybrid 'HHB 50' ('MS 81A' x 'H 90/4-5') with its seed parent 'MS 81A ', viz 99% H + 1% F (H, hybrid; F, female), 98% H + 2% F, 97% H + 3% F , 95% H + 5% F, 93% H + 7% F, 90% H + 10% F, and 2 controls (100% H, 1 00% F) simulating the conditions naturally occurring in seed-productio n plots were evaluated at Hisar and Bawal during 1988. The trial with these combinations along with 3 hybrids ('HHB 50', 'HHB 67' and 'HHB 6 8') based on 3 different male-sterile lines ('MS 81A', 'MS 843A' and ' MS 842A') was repeated in 1989. Various pollen-shedder combinations we re at par among themselves as well as with the control (100% H ii), ir respective of the hybrid, location and year. Substantial reduction in such ancillary characters as plant height (cm), ear length (cm), effec tive tillers and seed set (%) on female plants was recorded in the fem ale plants in the various pollen-shedder combinations. The vigour of h ybrid plants suppressed the weak female (inbred) seedlings. As high as 10% pollen shedders had no effect on the potential productivity or th e hybrid seed. It strongly supports the relaxation of seed-certificati on standards ( < 0.10% pollen shedders in certified seed) fixed arbitr arily with respect to pollen shedders in the hybrid-seed-production pl ot.