Identification, characterization and geographic distribution of male-sterility restorer and maintainer lines from diverse pearl millet germplasm

• Published in: Euphytica 1989, Vol.40 (1), p.155-159
• Main Authors: Rao, S.A. (ICRISAT, Patancheru, AP (India). Genetic Resources Unit), Mengesha, M.H, Reddy, C.R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; ESTERILIDAD MASCULINA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; GEOGRAFIA; GEOGRAPHIE; GEOGRAPHY; GERMOPLASMA; GERMPLASM; Heterosis. Floral biology applications: apomixy, male sterility, incompatibility, varia; MALE INFERTILITY; PENNISETUM TYPHOIDES; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; PLASMA GERMINATIF; Pteridophyta, spermatophyta; STERILITE MALE; Vegetals
• ISSN: 0014-2336; 1573-5060
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00023310

To determine the distribution and geographic specificity of sterility maintainers in pearl millet, Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke, 428 diverse pearl millet germplasm accessions representing variation from 12 countries were crossed with a male-sterile line 5141A. The F sub(1) hybrids were classified as male-fertile or male-sterile based on the seed set on bagged ear heads and on other morphology. Among these, 87 (20.3%) were classified as male-fertile, 32 (7.5%) as male-sterile, 282 (65.9%) as segregating for male-fertile/male-sterile and 27 (6.3%) behaved as male-fertile in the rainy and male-sterile in the postrainy season. Restorer lines were distributed in all the countries studied except Cameroon and USSR. Maintainer lines were observed from six countries but were concentrated in India.