Screening of Pearl Millet Genotypes for Supra Heat Tolerance

Abstract

A nursery comprising of 90 lines (80 B and 10 R lines) and a Heat Tolerant B Composite was evaluated at Mandor, along with 5 hybrid checks. 2 heat tolerant (86M11, 86M64), 3 heat susceptible (ICMB 04555, ICMB 10999 and ICMR 08666) for flowering period heat stress during Summer-2014. Data loggers (U23-001, HOBO Pro v2 Temp/RH) were installed in the experimental area at panicle height and programmed to record weather variables every one hour. At dough stage, seed set was recorded on randomly selected plants. Finally, data were considered only for those plants which got exposed to air temperatures of ≥42oC during flowering time. Hybrid 86M11 had highest seed set (68%) amongst checks and it was followed by 86M64 with (54%), while the susceptible checks had 0.0 to 15% seed set. Among identified designated seed parents ICMB 02333, ICMB 04888, ICMB 04999, ICMB 05666, ICMB 06555 and ICMR 09222 had seed set of >50%, and 5 other B-lines (non designated) had seed set of ≥ 50%. Seed set in heat tolerant B composite varied from 55 to 90%.