RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

common in West Africa than fusiform. The number
of grains/involucre varies from 1-6; the highest
number is found in Niger.
Vitreousness. This character is related to superior
food and keeping qualities of the grain. It is reportedly
higher in early than in late millets. Grain shape
and vitreousness are probably correlated. Narrow
grains (Souna) tend to be more vitreous than globular
grains. The highest degree of vitreousness is
found in Senegal. Varieties from Niger are intermediate
between the Malian and Burkina Faso varieties
for this character.
Grain color. The predominant colors are yellow
and gray. Yellow grains are mainly found in Niger.
Except for varieties from Ghana and Togo, early
varieties are usually yellow, while late varieties are
gray (Senegal, Mali).
Food quality. This characteristic is difficult to
evaluate because it is linked to food habits. However,
certain varieties are known by their food qualities,
for example, "healthy millet," "flatulent millet."
These qualities may be related to vitreousness (Bono
1973). In Mali, bold, light gray grain that is easy to
hull is preferred.
Bristled heads. In Senegal, bristled heads serve to
distinguish between early and late millets. In other
countries, however, this character is not linked to
crop duration.
Other characters. A l l local cultivars are characterized
by a strong root system for efficient absorption
of minerals from generally less fertile soils (Jacquinot
1972, Ramond 1962). Relatively abundant tillering
enables the plant to adverse rainfall conditions
and pest attack.
Collection of wild and cultivated forms of pearl
millet was started in 1974, sponsored by the International
Board of Plant Genetic Resources (IPBGR),
to conserve pearl millet germplasm (Acheampong et
al. 1984) (Table 2).
Evaluation of Heterosis in Local Cultivar
Crosses
Pearl millet germplasm from Mali, Senegal, Burkina
Faso, and Niger was crossed to evaluate heterosis
(Bono 1973). There was a heterosis effect on yield in
the Senegal x Mali and Senegal x Burkina Faso
crosses.
The same results were obtained in a study on interand
intra-country crosses (Purata Velarde 1976)
among which, the Senegal x Mali cross exhibited the
highest percentage of heterosis (Table 3).
Review of Varietal Improvement
Work
Background
Varietal research on pearl millet in French-speaking
West Africa began in 1931 at the Centre de Recherches
Table 2. IBPGR-sponsored pearl millet collection in West Africa.
Country
Sample
total
Cultivated
forms
Wild
forms
Weedy
forms
Other
forms
ICRISAT
introductions
Benin
Burkina Faso
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Senega]
Chad
Togo
221
590
17
135
72
1022
-
742
278
264
-
165
183
462
-
-
72
931
-
565
177
228
-
165
1
10
-
-
-
54
-
20
23
18
-
150
37
97
-
-
-
37
-
145
8
18
-
-
.
21
17
135
-
-
-
12
-
-
-
13
17
34
17
265
-
873
1
1032
610
360
62
58
Source: Acheampong et al. 1984.
98