Evaluation of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] for grain iron and zinc content in different agro climatic zones of India


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Authors

  • N. Anuradha Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
  • C. Tara Satyavathi Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
  • M. C. Meena Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
  • S. Mukesh Sankar Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
  • C. Bharadwaj Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
  • Jayant Bhat Regional Research Center, ICAR-IARI, Dharwad, Karnataka
  • Omvir Singh Regional Station, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
  • S. P. Singh Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012

Abstract

Micronutrient malnutrition, especially the paucity of iron
(Fe) and zinc (Zn) is posing a big threat to the world affecting
nearly 25% of worldwide population. Pearl millet is endowed
with huge amount of variability for micronutrients especially
for grain Fe and Zn content. Micronutrient enrichment in
pearl millet is possible by identifying stable genotypes for
high levels of micronutrients and utilising them in breeding
programme. In this context, a set of 40 pearl millet
genotypes along with one check, Dhanshakti (G30), were
evaluated at three different agro climatic zones during the
year 2014 for grain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) contents using
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The genotypes
contributed 58.3% and 52.8% of the total variation for grain
Fe and Zn content, respectively. The magnitude of variation
contributed by interaction component was also relatively
high (39.7% and 32.5% for grain Fe and Zn). Both AMMI
and GGE biplot analysis identified desirable genotypes;
PPMI 708 (G40), PPMI 1102 (G25) and PPMI 683 (G39) for
grain Fe content, whereas PPMI 708 (G40), PPMI 1116 (G24)
and PPMI 683 (G39) for grain Zn content. The Pearson
correlation coefficient for grain Fe and Zn content showed
that both traits are highly associated (r = 0.8, p <0.01) and
these traits did not associate significantly with grain yield.
Hence, there is possibility for simultaneous improvement
of both grain Fe and Zn content without compromising for
grain yield.

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Submitted

2017-02-27

Published

2017-02-27

How to Cite

Anuradha, N., Satyavathi, C. T., Meena, M. C., Sankar, S. M., Bharadwaj, C., Bhat, J., Singh, O., & Singh, S. P. (2017). Evaluation of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] for grain iron and zinc content in different agro climatic zones of India. The Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding, 77(1). https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJGPB/article/view/68231