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

that were evaluated during the rainy season. Of these, 51 progenies were selected (39 and 12 progenies,
respectively), based on the visual assessment for agronomic performance. Of these, 45 progenies flowered in 51−60
days and 4 in 46−50 days (checks ICMR 356 flowered in 51 days and ICMP 451 in 52 days).
KN Rai and RP Thakur
Genetics of panicle and grain size: Panicle length and girth (determinants of the seed number per panicle) and
grain mass are the two of the important yield components of grain yield. Numerous studies have investigated the
genetics of these three traits, but never before with as large parental contrasts as those now available in the
ICRISAT-bred lines. Thus, a renewed effort is underway to investigate the genetics of these three traits using lines
that have 70 cm of panicle length, >45 mm of panicle diameter and >16 g of 1000-grain mass. During the 2005
postrainy season, four parents of almost similar maturity but with large contrasts for these traits were crossed to
produce 6 F 1 s (2 for each trait). During the rainy season, all the parental lines along with their F 1 s, F 2 s and
backcrosses (seed produced in the glasshouse) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three
replications. Observations on quantitative traits like plant height, number of productive tillers, panicle length and
diameter were recorded on all the plants in F 2 s and backcross progenies, while these observations were recorded on
30 randomly selected plants in parental lines and F 1 s. The data on 1000-grain mass is yet to be recorded.
Additionally, seeds of triple testcross (TTC) progenies have been produced during rainy season by crossing more
than 60 F 2 plants as male parent onto respective parents and their F 1 s, which will be evaluated during the 2007
postrainy season to provide the additional information on the inheritance pattern of the targeted traits.
KN Rai
Milestone 5A.2.1.3: An elite B-composite and an elite R-composite with resistance to multiple pathotypes of downy
mildew populations developed (KNR/RB/RPT/RS, 2009)
Output target 5A.3: Morphological and molecular diversity of more than 150 elite inbred lines of pearl millet
assessed and the relationship between diversity and yield heterosis demonstrated (2009)
Activity 5A.3.1: Evaluate parental lines, advanced breeding lines and their hybrids for grain yield, and
morphological and molecular diversity
Milestone 5A.3.1.1: Designated seed parents and restorer lines characterized for DUS traits and molecular diversity
(KNR/RB/RV, 2008)
Two-season characterization of 108 A/B pairs and 88 restorer lines for 26 characters from replicated trials was
completed. The data were computerized in a catalogue format and field photographs have been taken for the A/B
lines. The data computerization for the R-lines and their field photographs are yet to be completed.
KN Rai, Ranjana Bhattacharjee and Rajeev Varshney
Milestone 5A.3.1.2: Selected hybrid parents and advanced breeding lines characterized for morphological and
molecular diversity, and yield heterosis (KNR/RB/RV, 2008)
This research is to start in 2007.
KN Rai, Ranjana Bhattacharjee and Rajeev Varshney
Milestone 5A.3.1.3: Two medium-maturity heterotic gene pools based on molecular marker diversity constituted
(KNR/RB/SC/RV, 2012)
This project is to start in 2007.
KN Rai, Ranjana Bhattacharjee, S Chandra and Rajeev Varshney
Output target 5A.4: QTLs for downy mildew resistance in pearl millet identified, compared to those
previously detected, and their effect on DM resistance assessed (2008)
Activity 5A.4.1:
Development of mapping populations and QTL mapping of DM resistance
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