Notification of crop varieties and registration of germplasm (Pearlmillet A dual-purpose hybrid - MPMH 17)

Abstract

Pearlmillet: A dual-purpose hybrid - MPMH 17 Pearlmillet is an important cereal crop of arid and semiarid regions of north and north-western India valued for both grain, as human food, and dry stover, as main component of ration of cattle. Majority of pearl millet growing areas, especially north western parts of country, are characteristically prone to drought stress of unpredictabile intensity and duration and have high livestock population. As a result, early to medium maturing and dual-purpose cultivars are preferred so as to cater to the need of crop-livestock farming system. MPMH 17 fulfills these requirements due to its medium maturity (<80 day) and ability to provide high grain and dry stover yields. MPMH 17 was developed at the All India Coordinated Pearl Millet Improvement Project, Mandor, Jodhpur. Consequent upon its superior performance in station trials, the hybrid was contributed in the All India Coordinated Trials where it was tested during 2009-2011 at 57 locations (18 locations each in 2009 and 2011; and 21 locations in 2010) along with four checks viz., Pusa 23, ICMH 356, GHB 744 and RHB 121. The test locations were spread in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The performance of MPMH17 was very consistent during three years of evaluations. The hybrid ranked first among all test entries including checks in 2010 and 2011 and ranked 2nd in 2009. On an average, it provided grain yield of 2835 kg/ha which was 10-39% higher than four checks i.e. Pusa23 (2028 kg/ha), ICMH356 (2371 kg/ha), GHB744 (2543 kg/ha) and RHB121 (2576 kg/ha). In addition, MPMH17 also provided higher stover yield (64 q/ha) than Pusa23 (52 q/ha), ICMH356 (56 q/ha) and GHB744 (63 q/ha), though its stover yield was slightly (1.5%) lesser than that of RHB121 (65 q/ha). The maturity duration of MPMH 17 and four checks was almost at par (77-79 days). In spite of same crop duration, the considerable superiority of MPMH 17 to checks highlights that the growth rate and per day productivity of this hybrid is higher than those of checks. Another distinctive advantage of MPMH17 is its high level of resistance to downy mildew and blast, two most important diseases of pearlmillet. Under artificially created epiphytotic conditions at 19 hot-spot locations during 2009-2011, MPMH 17 showed only 1.2% downy mildew incidence in comparison to 2-6% on checks. Similarly, blast incidence in this hybrid was 9% in comparison to 10-16% of that of four checks. Looking to its grain and stover yields and disease resistance, MPMH 17 was notified vide Notification number SO 952 (E) dated 10 April, 2013 in the Gazette of India for general cultivation in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi under rainfed conditions of kharif season. The hybrid MPMH17 matures, on an average, in 79 days and takes 48 days to flower. It is high tillering (2.7 panicles/plant) and produces very compact panicles of 22-24 cm length filled with medium sized grains (seed weight of 8.0 g/1000 grain) of globular shape and grey-brown colour. The hybrid attains the height of approximately 180 cm and produces panicles that are, on an average, 2.6 cm thick. The parentage of hybrid MPMH 17 includes male sterile line ICMA04999 (female parent) and fertility restorer MIR 525-2 (male parent). The line ICMA04999 is based on A1 source of cytoplasmic male-sterility. It produces distinct brown anthers, while node pubescence and bristles are absent in it. On the other hand, the male parent MIR525-2 produces yellow anthers, and its panicles are studded with long brown coloured bristles. Hybrid MPMH17 possesses yellow anthers, has pubescence at nodes, shows complete exertion and has long brown bristles that are very helpful in reducing the extent of bird damage in crop. Anthocyanin pigmentation of glumes and tip sterility are absent in hybrids as well as in both parental lines of hybrid. The additional desirable feature of ICMA04999 is its high degree of tolerance to high temperature at grain-filling stage which helps in good seed set in seed production plots in summer season. The flowering time of both parental lines is similar (47 days) and thus no problem in nicking is encountered in certified seed production plots of hybrid. It is well recognized that the major increase in pearl millet yield would occur through cultivation of improved cultivars supported by higher input management system. It is therefore very pertinent that the new cultivars are responsive to additional inputs. MPMH 17 responded very favourably to the additional doses of nitrogen. The yield improvement at 60 kg N/ha and 90 kg N/ha was 12% and 20%, respectively over the basal dose of 30 kg N/ha during testing in AICPMIP trials.