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Genetic Markers to Locate and Transfer Heterotic Chromosome Blocks for Increased Pearl Millet Yields
Author(s) -
Burton Glenn W.,
Werner B. K.
Publication year - 1991
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/cropsci1991.0011183x003100030005x
Subject(s) - heterosis , biology , pennisetum , introgression , germplasm , backcrossing , hybrid , population , pearl , cultivar , plant breeding , gene transfer , horticulture , agronomy , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene , philosophy , demography , theology , sociology
The introgression of exotic germplasm by conventional breeding procedures to promote greater heterosis and yield within adapted hybrid cultivars often is a difficult and lengthy process. As part of long‐term investigations, the objectives of this study were to evaluate and use nonlethal genetic markers to locate heterotic chromosome blocks (HCBs) in exotic pearl millet [ Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] lines, develop methods to use the markers to transfer in the future the selected HCBs to inbred T383, and to increase the yield of ‘Tifleaf 2’ (T85A ✕ T383). The nonlethal dominant R gene for red plant color was used to screen 129 pearl millet near‐isogenic populations for high‐yielding HCBs by measuring height and weight of at least 50 red and 50 green spaced plants in each population. In 27 populations, HCB heterosis [(green — red plant wt)/red plant wt) ✕ 100] ranged from 18 to 61% ( P < 0.01). The nonlethal tr gene for the trichomeless condition was used to screen 91 pearl millet populations for HCB heterosis = [( Tr ‐ tr plant wt)/tr plant wt) ✕ 100]. In 52 of these populations, HCB heterosis ranged from 17 to 44% ( P < 0.01). The best HCBs are being transferred to inbred T383, the male parent of Tifleaf 2, using the genetic markers R and tr to follow the HCBs during the backcross transfer. The design calls for completing three to four backcross generations per year. When top‐yielding HCBs identified by R and tr become a part of the gene complex of T383, T85A ✕ T383 HCB can be expected to outyield T85A ✕ T383. Plant height measurements were of no value in screening exotic lines for high yielding HCBs.