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Inheritance and Utilization of Five Dwarfs in Pearl Millet ( Pennisetum typhoides ) Breeding 1
Author(s) -
Burton Glenn W.,
Forston James C.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1966.0011183x000100010022x
Subject(s) - biology , hybrid , pennisetum , backcrossing , dwarfism , barley yellow dwarf , agronomy , botany , gene , genetics , plant virus , virus
Height measurements were made on over 39,000 parent, F 1 , F 2 , and backcross plants of hybrids involving five dwarf and four normal inbreds of pearl millet, grown in replicated randomized blocks. F 1 hybrids between four of the dwarfs were as tall as normal × dwarf hybrids, proving that these dwarfs carried different recessive genes for dwarfness. One dwarf × dwarf hybrid was little taller than its taller dwarf parent, suggesting that both carried similar dwarf genes. Most dwarf × normal F 1 hybrids were significantly taller (up to 37%) than their normal parents. Inheritance of dwarfness in D 1 and D 2 appeared to be conditioned largely by one or two recessive genes. Near‐normal F 2 distribution curves and minimum‐gene‐number estimates indicated that dwarfness in D 3 , D 4 , and D 5 was controlled by more than two recessive genes. When transferred to a near‐isogenic background, dwarfness in D 1 and D 2 was controlled by single but different recessive genes, named d 1 and d 2 , respectivel. Gahi‐2 seed, produced by harvesting all seed from a field planted to a mixture of equal numbers of seeds of D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , and D 4 , contains about 75% of tall hybrids and yields nearly as much as Gahi‐1. Cytoplasmic malesterile dwarfs can be used as females to facilitate singlecross seed production. They will give tall hybrids if tall or different dwarf males are used. By using males carrying the same dwarf genes, short, extra‐leafy, high‐quality forage hybrids can be produced.