Differential response of landrace-based populations and high yielding varieties of pearl millet in contrasting environments

Five populations of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), having varying degre es of landrace germplasm from Rajasthan in their parentage, were evaluated across a range of environments differing greatly in their productivity leve ls. The populations showed different response patterns to environments with different productivity potentials. Comparison of landrace-based population s with high yielding control cultivars showed that the productivity of land race populations for both grain and stover yields was clearly superior in l ow-yielding environments. In contrast, their productivity was often inferio r to that of released high yielding varieties in more productive environmen ts. Two populations, Early Rajasthan Population (ERajPop) and Early High Ti llering Population (EHiTiP), flowered earlier than the early control, ICTP 8203. The landrace-derived populations had significantly higher tillering p otential than the elite controls and also had more stable flowering time an d tillering than high yielding controls in stress environments. Based on th ese results, the potential use of these landrace-based populations in futur e pearl millet breeding programmes is discussed. In addition, the breeding history of all populations has been briefly documented to give an overview of selection procedures followed in developing them.