SELFING RATES OF PEARL-MILLET (PENNISETUM-TYPHOIDES STAPF AND HUBB) UNDER NATURAL CONDITIONS

The selfing rate of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides Stapf and Hubb. ) has been determined under natural conditions. This species is said t o be allogamous. Nine test plants homozygous for a particular allele o n the alcohol dehydrogenase: ADH A locus (A1A1) were sown 2.5 m one fr om each other interspersed among 300 plants homozygous for the same lo cus (A2A2); these nine plants served as indicators of selfing. In the 20 spikes produced by these a test plants, the selfing rates varied be tween 2.2% and 21.7%. Selfing rates were not significantly different w ithin spikes of the same plant, except for one individual. There was n o significant correlation between the rate of selfing and the density of the pollen shadow (estimated from the number of spikes producing po llen during the female phase of test plants) or variation in protogyny .