Response of pearl millet (Pennicetum glaucuml.) to experimental mutagenesis in the Guinea Savannah agro-ecology of Ghana

Abstract

Irradiation techniques were applied to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on growth and yield of pearl millet ( Pennicetum glaucum L.) during the cropping seasons of 2014 to 2016 in Nyankpala, Ghana. Seeds of pearl millet were irradiated with gamma rays at 100, 200 or 300 Gy. The irradiated and some unirradiated control seeds were planted in 2014 in a randomized complete block design with four replications. At harvest, all M1 seeds for respective gamma ray doses were harvested and advanced to M2 generation during the 2015 cropping season. Mutant lines with desirable agronomic traits from the M2 generation were advanced to M3 during the 2016 season. Result of screening the M3 mutant lines indicated that mutagenesis followed by selection produced desirable agronomic characteristics. Number of productive tillers was the yield component mostly associated with total grain yield. The mutant lines especially those from the 100 and 200 Gy doses of gamma rays recorded significant improvement in earliness, number of productive tillers, seed weight and total grain yield. The early maturing and high yielding mutant lines are being evaluated in multilocational trials for possible release as varieties for northern Ghana. Keywords: Pearl Millet, Growth, Grain Yield, Gamma Irradiation, Induced Mutation