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Evaluation of adaptability and forage yield stability of the pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) hybrids
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Reza Ataei   , Masoud Torabi , Ali Azari-Nasrabad , Ahmad Ghasemi , Mohammadreza Shiri |
| Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Agricultural Research, Education & Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran |
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Abstract: (59 Views) |
Introduction: Iran, with its diverse climatic conditions, is predominantly classified as dry and semi-dry country, where limited water resources, precipitation fluctuations and uneven distribution and summer heat, and are among the main challenges for the agricultural crop production. In such conditions, the development of crop cultivars with low water requirements, short life-cycle, and tolerant to abiotic stresses, particularly drought and heat, and high yield is an unavoidable necessity. The development of high-yielding hybrid pearl millet cultivars with broad adaptation can be an effective strategy to improve resource productivity and the resilience of cropping systems under changing climatic conditions in Iran.
Materials and Methods: To evaluate the adaptability and yield stability of the promising hybrid pearl millet cultivars, 11 promising hybrid pearl millet along with a control (cv. Mehran) were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications in four field staions; Karaj, Birjand, Isfahan, and Zabol in 2022 and 2023. Days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf number, panicle length, panicle diameter, tiller number, fresh forage yield, and dry matter yield were measured and recorded.
Results: The results of the combined analysis of variance revealed considerable genetic diversity for the studied traits. Mean comparisons showed that four hybrids; H543, H353, H333, and H604, had higher fresh forage yield with 98.2, 96.1, 91.9 and 80.9 ton.ha-1, respectively. Forage yiled stability analysis (by rank method and Lin & Binns superiority index) indicated that these four hybrids performed a good combination of high forage yield and and yield stability.
Conclusion: The results of this experiment showed that the potential heterosis present in pearl millet hybrids for replacing older cultivars with the newly developed hybrids. All the hybrids evaluated had higher forgae yiled compared to the cv. Mehran. Moreover, considering drought and rising temperatures stresses, due to changing climate conditions, the development of high-yielding hybrid pearl millet cultivars with broad adaptation can be a key strategy for mitigating the adverse effect of climate change on food production and security.
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| Keywords: Heterosis, Hybrid cultivars, Pearl millet, Plant height and Stability analysis |
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Full-Text [PDF 336 kb]
(34 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Scientific & Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/04/29 | Accepted: 2025/09/23 | Published: 2026/03/30
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