RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

Table 3. Evaluation of heterosis in different intra- and
inter-country crosses.
Cross
Intra-country
Niger: Maiwa x Nigerian
Mali: Mopi x Maliens
Inter-country
Senegal x Mali
Senegal x Niger
Mali x Niger
Iniadi x Mali
Iniadi x Niger
Iniadi x Senegal
Source: Purata Velarde 1976.
Crosses showing
heterosis (%)
30
50
80
40
40
30
37
50
Agronomiques (CRA) in Bambey, Senegal, and was
sponsored by the French Institut de Recherches
Agronomiques Tropicales et des Cultures Vivrieres
(IRAT). The CRA in Bambey served as a central
station for the entire area. The development of pearl
millet improvement work can be divided into three
periods (Etasse 1966).
From 1931 to 1951. Cereals occupied a relatively
small place in the general program. Local populations
were improved through pedigree selection.
From 1951 to 1959. A section specialized on
cereals was established. It focused on the development
of a complex mass selection method that could
be used at the small outreach stations in the zone.
From 1959 to 1961. This period coincides with the
independence of some French-speaking West African
countries, and the establishment of national
agricultual research programs in several countries.
The responsibilities of the CRA were taken over by
I R A T headquarters in France.
Although the national programs were coordinated
by I R A T , they evolved on their own following
similar research themes and objectives. Diseases and
pests received little attention at this time because
they were considered to have little influence on
yields (Etasse 1965). The national research programs
have always focused on three main research areas:
• improvement of landraces;
• improvement of the grain/dry matter ratio;
• use of the heterosis effect.
Improvement of Landraces
In most cases the goal was uniformity in one or more
varieties for a certain character, such as duration,
grain color, or head characteristics (Bono and Leclercq
1963, Lambert 1983). Yield and yield stability
were also evaluated.
Mass Selection
This method was used in Mali and in Niger to
improve the variety Haini Kirei in 1967. Two populations
were produced: Normal Haini Kirei (HKN)
and early Haini Kieri (HKP). Further selection of
the H K P population led to the H K P synthetic. In
Mali, selection was continued until the three earliest
populations were obtained—M 2 D 2 , M 9 D 2 , and
M 12 D 1 . So far these are the only varieties to be
recommended for release.
Recurrent Selection with Topcross Testing
This program, initiated in 1961, focused on the
improvement of five populations in Senegal: early
populations PS 32, PC 33, and PC 28; and late
populations PS 34 and 35.
The best progeny of the three early populations
were recombined to produce the synthetic Souna 2.
A new breeding program was started using its progeny
and a new synthetic Souna 3 was developed
from the best topcrosses. This is the only variety to
be released in Senegal.
In Niger this method was used to improve the
landrace Zongo. Three ecotypes of the landrace were
identified. The best lines from them were identified
by topcross testing and were recombined to produce
a synthetic variety, improved Zongo but it did not
perform better than the original material in yield
tests. In Mali, the same selection method was used
on four populations to develop the synthetic PS 71,
but it was outyielded by the test control. In Burkina
Faso, Saria synthetic 71 was produced using this
method.
Recurrent Selection with S 1 Testing
In Niger, when this method was applied to population
KHP, the recombined material from the superior
progenies did not offer any yield advantage. An
intervarietal composite was formed by intermating
99