A high yielding downy mildew disease resistant pearl millet composite CO 10

Abstract

A high yielding pearl millet variety, UCC 32 was developed as composite by mixing and random mating of five elite inbred lines with resistant to downy mildew disease at Department of millets, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. It has been tested extensively in Tamil Nadu and in other states under MLT, ART, OFT and All India Co-ordinated programme for the past four years. It performed well both under rainfed and irrigated situations in Tamil Nadu. This variety is medium in stature (160 -180 cm) and in duration (85 - 90 days). It produces 4 - 6 productive tillers with mostly lanceolate shaped ears. The size of the grain is bold and is grayish yellow in colour. The variety UCC 32 is highly resistant to downy mildew under both normal and sick plot condition. This new variety recorded a mean grain yield of 3474 kg/ha under irrigated conditions, which are about 17 and 23 per cent increase over the checks CO (Cu) 9 and ICMV 221 respectively. The mean grain yield under rainfed conditions is 2916 kg/ha which is 15 and 24 per cent increase over CO (Cu) 9 and ICMV 221 respectively. The variety UCC 32 is medium in duration, high yielding, resistant to downy mildew, bold grain, compact ear head, non-lodging and fertilizer responsive. The protein content is high (12.07 %). It has acceptable cooking quality and suited for consumption.

Keywords

• ucc 32
• composite
• co 10
• medium duration
• downy mildew resistance