ONTOGENIC APPROACH TO GRAIN PRODUCTION IN PEARL-MILLET (PENNISETUM-GLAUCUM) BASED ON PATH-COEFFICIENT ANALYSIS

Path-coefficient analyses, based on the ontogeny of pearl millet [Penn isetum glaucum (L.)R. Br. emend. Stuntz] plant, were carried out durin g rainy seasons (kharif) of 1990 and 1991 to study the relationship am ong grain yield, yield components, pre-flowering period and threshing ratio. Thirty genotypes were grown for 2 years at Jodhpur under natura l moisture, stress during grain-filling stage. Variation in grain yiel d primarily depended on threshing (%) and panicles/m2. However, 500-gr ain weight had negligible influence on seed yield. Mom days to floweri ng affected adversely the threshing (%), whereas panicles/m2 positivel y influenced it via pre-flowering period. High threshing ratio increas ed the 500-grain weight considerably. The variation in panicle length did not significantly influence any trait.