Agroecological Patterns of Diversity in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Germplasm from India

Abstract

India is the largest pearl millet growingcountry with diverse climate.Agroecological patterns ofdiversity for impo11ant
agronomic traits was assessed in 5,197 pearl millet germplasm accessions originating in India and conserved at
Rajendra S. Paroda Genebank at ICRISAT. Agroecological region 10, mostly covering Malwa and Bundelkhand
regions, which accounted for maximum overall diversity with less representation in genebank (135 accessions),
can be explored for additional diversity in the collection. Mean values and the frequency distribution suggest further
exploration in agroecological region 3 for tall plant height, region 5 for short height, region 6 for high panicle
exse11ion and large seeds, region 8 for high number of productive tillers, region 10 for long panicles, region II
for thick panicles, region 12 for late flowering and high tillering and region 14 for early flowering. Observed
relationship between the climate of agroecol()gical regions of I.ndia and the performance of pearl millet germplasm
implies that the environmental factors such as rainfall, number of rainy days, temperature, soils and daily sunshine
period are the important determinants of variation patterns.