CHARACTERISTICS AND POTENTIAL USES OF SOME GENETIC STOCKS OF PEARL MILLET IN THE WORLD COLLECTION

Abstract

The world germplasm collection of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum
(L) R. Br.J consistingof21, 772 accessions from 44countries is being maintained
at ICRISATCentre, Patancheru, India. Most ofthe material has been evaluated
and characterised to identify traits of economic importance for present and
future utilisation. Promising accessions identified as sources ofdisease resistance
are 1220 to downy mildew, 151 to ergot, 161 to smut and 392 to rust. Other
genetic stocks and seedling markers identified are 145 dwarfs, 3 midribless, 8
glossy and many viable chlorophyll deficient mutants. New male sterile lines
identified from Ghana and Botswana germplasm are early-maturing and
produce large grains. Sweet stalk types with high sugar content are useful to
develop fodder types. Early-flowering stocks are useful to develop early-maturing
high-yielding cultivars. Germplasm from West Africa is a good source for
disease resistance, high head volume and large grain size.