ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

(check IPC 804 flowered in 50 days). Another 190 progenies, of which 142 flowered in 46−55 days, were identified
during the 2006 rainy season to further upgrade this group.
Restorer parent progenies with specific agro-ecological adaptation: The two most contrasting agro-ecoregions in
India that require different plant types and seed traits are Rajasthan (specifically western Rajasthan) and
Maharashtra. Thus, for Rajastahn adaptation (largely high-tillering type with small to medium seed size), we
evaluated 87 (S 7 -S 12 ) progenies, of which 60 were selected, with 47 of these flowering in 46−55 days and one
progeny flowering in 40 days (checks H 77/833-2 flowered in 44 days and ICMR 356 in 47 days). About 300
additional progenies were identified as Rajasthan-adapted type and added in the group for further evaluation, of
which 150 flowered in 51−55 days and 95 in 46−50 days. For Maharashtra adaptation (mostly iniari type with dark
gray color and medium to large grains), we evaluated 26 advanced generation progenies (S 7 -S 12 ), of which 14 were
selected, with 13 of these flowering in 46−55 days (check ICTP 8203 flowered in 47 days). During the rainy season,
two sub-groups within the iniari type (early and medium height) comprising of 320 progenies were constituted
based on days to 50% flowering and visual assessment for plant height and agronomic performance. Out of 320
progenies, 22 belonged to early group and 300 to medium-height group. Among early-maturing progenies, all
flowered in 40−50 days, while of those in the medium-height group, 50 flowered in 40−50 days and 165 flowered in
51−55 days.
Genetic diversification of restorer lines: As in the seed parent breeding program, evaluation of restorer parent
progenies is also done by planting them according to their parentage during the initial stage of inbreeding and
selection. Though these materials are carried forward in this structure, some of the most promising ones, mostly at
F 5 and beyond, are also included in the trait-specific groups until all those surviving selections up to the final stage
are grouped into trait-specific classes or rejected in the final evaluation.
Early-generation progenies (S 1 -S 3 ): This consisted of iniari type progenies (S 1 /S 2 ) from ICTP 8202 and LaGrap,
and dual-purpose progenies from seven populations. We evaluated 107 progenies from ICTP 8202 in the postrainy
season drought nursery, of which 56 were selected based on agronomic performance, with 33 of these flowering in
51−55 days and 16 flowering in 40−50 days (check ICMR 356 flowered in 56 days). About 120 S 2 s were generated
for further evaluation. In LaGrap, we evaluated 106 progenies (S 1/ S 2 ) during the rainy season, of which 67 were
selected with 11 of these flowering in 40−45 days and 35 flowering in 46−50 days (check ICMP 451 flowered in 52
days). About 95 (S 1 ) progenies were screened against Durgapura pathotype in glasshouse under high disease
pressure (susceptible check ICMP 451 had >95% DM incidence), of which 65% progenies had 95% DM incidence) showed that 69% of it were highly resistant (