Effect of different levels of pollen shedders on productivity of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) hybrids

Abstract

Six combinations of pollen shedden, created artificially by blending the seed of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br, emend. Stuntz] hybrid 'IIHB 50' ('MS 81A' X 'H 90/4-5') with its seed parent 'MS 81A', viz99% H + 1% F(H.hybrid;F,female), 98% H+2% F,97% H+3% F,95% H+5% F,93% H + 7% F, 90% H + 10% F, and 2 controls (100 % H, 100 % F) simulating the conditions naturally occurring in seed-production plots were evaluated at Hisar and Bawal during 1988. The trial with these combinations along with 3 hybrids ('HHB 50', 'HHB 67' and 'HHB 68') based on 3 different male-sterile lines CMS SlA', 'MS 843A' and 'MS 842A') was repeated in 1989. Various pollen-shedder combinations were at par among themselves as well as with the control (100 % H), irrespective of the hybrid,location and year. Substantial reduction in such ancillary characters as plant height (cm), ear length (cm), effective tillers and seed set (%) on female plants was recorded in the female plants in the various pollen-shedder combinations. The vigour of hybrid plants suppressed the weak female (inbred) seedlings. As high as 10% pollen shedders had no effect on the potential productivity of the hybrid seed. It strongly supports the relaxation of seed-certification standards (<0.10% pollen shedders in certified seed) fixed arbitrarily with respect to pollen shedders in the hybrid-seed-production plot.