Performance of pearl millet isonuclear hybrids involving different cytoplasmic male‐sterility systems

摘要

AbstractThe performance of pearl millet hybrids involving four sources of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), including the most‐exploited A1source, was compared to evaluate the effects of cytoplasm on grain yield. The mean grain yield of hybrids possessing A2, A3and A4cytoplasms was either similar to or significantly higher than that of their counterpart hybrids with A1cytoplasm. Hybrids based on A3and A4cytoplasms produced, on average, 8 more grain compared with those based on A1cytoplasm. This suggested that these CMS sources could be used as alternatives to A1cytoplasm to widen the cytoplasmic base of hybrids. The results indicated that most of the variation in hybrids was accounted for by pollinator and cytoplasm × pollinator interactions, suggesting the use of genetically diverse pollinators in pearl millet hybrid breedi