Op. Yadav et E. Weltzien, Differential response of landrace-based populations and high yielding varieties of pearl millet in contrasting environments, ANN ARID Z, 39(1), 2000, pp. 39-45
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.