Assessment of genetic diversity among cultivated Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum, Poaceae) accessions from Benin, West Africa

Abstract Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important food-security crop to smallholder farmers in West Africa (WA). Breeding for high yield and stability is a major challenge in the harsh environments of WA but could be tackled by hybrid breeding. Knowledge of combining ability patterns and quantitative-genetic parameters is required for an efficient development of hybrid varieties. Hence, our objectives were to estimate the combining ability of seven genetically diverse Sahelian pearl millet populations from Senegal, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan and Nigeria and the heterosis and stability of their 42 diallel-derived population hybrids to inform pearl millet hybrid breeding. The genotypes were evaluated in six environments in WA in 2007. Grain yield (GY) exhibited an average panmictic mid-parent heterosis (PMPH) of 24%, ranging from -1.51% to 64.69%. General combining ability (GCA) was significant across test environments as reflected by high heritability estimates and high GCA:SCA variance ratios. Thus, early selection for parental per se performance would be rewarding. The parental population from Sudan (IP8679) had strongly negative GCA for GY. Its lack of adaptation contributed to the predominance of additive effects in the present germplasm set. Parental populations PE02987 (Senegal), PE05344 (Mali) and ICMV IS 92222 (Niger) showed large positive GCA for GY. Their offspring, especially PE02987 × PE05344 and Kapelga × ICMV IS 92222, exhibited a high and stable GY across all test environments. Tapping the regional pearl millet genetic diversity seems therefore beneficial for hybrid breeding to increase pearl millet productivity in WA.

Download Full-text

Genetic diversity of Sudanese pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) landraces as revealed by SSR markers, and relationship between genetic and agro-morphological diversity

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution ◽

10.1007/s10722-014-0183-5 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 579-591 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Elfadil M. A. Bashir ◽

Abdelbagi M. Ali ◽

Adam M. Ali ◽

El Tahir I. Mohamed ◽

Albrecht E. Melchinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Ssr Markers ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Morphological Diversity

Download Full-text

Screening of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Germplam Lines for Drought Tolerance Based on Morpho-physiological Traits and SSR Markers

Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology ◽

10.9734/cjast/2021/v40i531303 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 46-63

Author(s):

M. L. Choudhary ◽

M. K. Tripathi ◽

Sushma Tiwari ◽

R. K. Pandya ◽

Neha Gupta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Drought Tolerance ◽

Microsatellite Markers ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Ssr Markers ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Physiological Traits ◽

Physiological Data ◽

Major Allele Frequency ◽

Morphological And Physiological Traits

Aim: The present study was undertaken to analyze genetic diversity among pearl millet genotypes based on drought linked morpho-physiological and microsatellite markers. Study Design: In the present investigation, 96 pearl millet germplasm lines were screened against drought using different morphological and physiological traits along with SSR markers. Place and Duration of the Study: The present study was conducted at College of Agriculture, Gwalior, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, M.P., India during July 2019 to December, 2020. Methodology: The study was conducted to record different morphological and physiological traits related to drought tolerance and susceptibility. Thirty five microsatellite markers were also used in laboratory to analyze the variability among pearl millet genotypes under study. Results: Pearl millet genotypes were grouped according to their morpho-physiological characteristics. Among 35 SSR markers, twenty-two were successfully amplified across all germplasm lines and seven SSR markers were found to be polymorphic and fifteen markers were monomorphic. All seven polymorphic SSR markers were used consequently for amplification of all the 96 germplasm lines. The range of PIC value was 0.0939 to 0.2980 with the average of 0.2274. The highest PIC value was recorded for the markers Xibmsp26 and Xibmsp29 (0.2980), followed by Xibmsp03 (0.2392), Xibmsp29 (0.2392), Xibmsp06 (0.2289) and Xibmsp07 (0.1948) while the lowest for the marker Xibmsp01 (0.0939). The range of major allele frequency value was 0.7604 to 0.9479 with the average of 0.8363. The range of genetic diversity value was 0.0987 to 0.3644 with the average of 0.2665. Conclusions: According to the morpho-physiological data a total of 22 pearl millet genotypes were found to be grouped distantly from rest of the genotypes. These genotypes had shown their drought tolerance bahaviour however, rests of the genotypes were found to be susceptible against drought.

Download Full-text