RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

these data, it can be inferred that early millets were formed by several independent domestications of the wild
forms scattered along the southern margins of the Sahara. A l l the late millets from West Africa probably
descend from a common, single, early, founder population. Millets from India and southeastern Africa were
derived from central African forms by independent migrational events.
Possibilities for Pearl Millet Hybrids in Africa
Brief Overview of Pearl Millet Hybrids in Africa
(Examen recapitulatif des hybrides de mil en Afrique)
K. Anand Kumar
Principal Millet Breeder and Team Leader, ICRISAT Sahelian Center, B.P. 12404, Niamey, Niger
The discovery of cytoplasmic male-sterility in pearl millet and the breeding and release of Tift 23 A made the
production of hybrids possible in India, and lead to spectacular yield increases. Although Tift 23A was made
available to breeding programs in West Africa in the early 1960s, pearl millet hybrids were not tested
extensively. Tift 23A was not adapted to the environments in West Africa: it was too early, downy-mildew
susceptible, and shed pollen. Therefore, research was directed towards intervarietal or topcross hybrids, and
yield advantages over the local controls were from 12-90%. In eastern Africa, efforts were made to convert
locally-adapted material into male-sterile lines using the cytoplasm of Tift 23A, but further hybrid breeding
was discontinued.
Recent research in Senegal and Niger shows that hybrids using male-sterile lines have shown yield
advantages over the improved control of up to 60%. Work is in progress to breed male-sterile lines adapted to
West Africa. Hybrids will find a place in southern and eastern Africa, and in areas with dependable rainfall in
West Africa, but their introduction needs to be coupled with the adoption of improved management practices.
It is hoped that current research will lead to hybrids with substantially increased yield potential that will be
cultivated by African farmers by 1995.
Pearl Millet Male-Steriles and Hybrids in Nigeria
(Lignees males steriles et hybrides de mil au Nigeria)
C.C. Nwasike
Millet Breeder, Department of Crop Protection, I.A.R., Ahmadu Bello University, PMB 1044, Samaru,
Zaria, Nigeria
Even though millet is grown on about 5 million ha and the annual production is approximately 3 million t, the
average farmer's yield is about 0.641 ha -1 . Open-pollinated varieties—both local unimproved and improved—
predominate. Research indicates that the available male-sterile lines from India and the USA used in hybrid
millet combinations are highly susceptible to downy mildew, ergot, and smut. Disease incidence on the hybrids
exceeded 30%.
The mean yield of hybrids in Kano was 0.73-1.75 t ha -1 , while at Samaru it was 0.18-1.08 t ha -1 . The best
hybrid, with 5141A as the seed parent, yielded 1.32 t ha -1 in Kano and 0.73 t ha -1 in Samaru.
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