Collection and characterization of millet genetic resources from andhra pradesh and odisha.

Abstract

Exploration and collection of millet genetic resources from four districts of Koraput biodiversity hotspot was undertaken. Three districts in Andhra Pradesh viz., Srikakulam, Vizayanagaram, Vishakhapatnam and Rayagada district in Odisha state of India. Total of 72 accessions in various crops, finger millet (24 acc.), sorghum (18 acc.), foxtail millet (16 acc.), pearl millet (12 acc.), little millet (8 acc.), cowpea (6 acc.), rice (4 acc.), red gram (3 acc.), kodo millet (2 acc.), horse gram (1 acc.), and sesame (1 acc.) were collected. Comprehensive passport data was collected including the vernacular names and indigenous knowledge associated with the landrace. These accessions were evaluated and promising germplasm lines with more than one desirable trait were identified. In finger millet, ELS 112 (IC 0622040) was identified for high number productive tillers and grain boldness coupled with earliness. ELS 2 (IC 0621985) of Foxtail millet was identified for high number of internodes, plant height (150 cm), panicle length (27.5 cm) and grain yield (> 42 g per panicle). The little millet accession ELS 123 (IC 0622048) had three desirable traits, bold grain (>1.2 g per 500 seeds), long panicle (>33 cm) with grain yield >72 g. Grain yield and plant height per-se was high in ELS 39 (IC 0622002) accession of pearl millet.