Morphological characterization of pearl millet hybrids [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] and their parents

The present study was undertaken to characterize pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] hybrids\udand their parents on the basis of morphological descriptors with the objective to identify key diagnostic\udcharacters of the genotypes. A set of 24 pearl millet genotypes (7 hybrids and their 17 parental lines)\udwas evaluated in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications at two locations, Chaudhary\udCharan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCS HAU) Hisar and Regional Research Station (RRS)\udBawal (Rewari) under irrigated and rainfed conditions, respectively, during kharif, 2011. Observations\udwere recorded for 28 morphological and yield characters. All genotypes were classified into different\udgroups based on each character. Nodal pubescence, nodal pigmentation, spike shape, spike density,\udspike tip sterility, sheath pubescence and spikelet glum colour distinguished all the 24 genotypes by\udassigning them key diagnostic features that would certainly help the plant breeders, seed growers and\udseed certification agencies to use these diagnostic characters. Hybrids HHB 216, HHB 226, HHB 117\udcould be differentiated by bristle length, spikelet glume colour and spike tip sterility. Majority of the\udmorphological characters found to be dominant in the hybrids were contributed by the male parent