Identification and Screening of Restorers and Maintainers for different CMS Lines of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.)

Abstract

For the evolution of new pearl millet hybrids with diverse cytoplasmic background suitable for specific areas and condition,there is a need for diversified CMS sources among locally adaptable lines and identification of locally adaptable restorers.The present study was undertaken to screen the male sterile and restorer lines among the crosses of five male sterile lines andthirty inbreds of pearl millet. Five isogenic alloplasmic male sterile lines (ICMA 94111A, 81A, ICMA 88004A, PT 5054Aand 732A) were crossed with thirty inbreds in line x tester design, so as to obtain 150 F1 hybrids. F1’s were categorized asrestorers (>80 % pollen fertility), partial restorers (20 to 79 % pollen fertility), partial maintainers (10-19 % pollen fertility)and maintainers (<10 % pollen fertility). Among the 150 hybrids studied, 43 complete sterile and 24 complete fertile hybridswere identified. The two inbreds namely PT 5259 and PT 5773 recorded sterility with four male sterile lines out of five malesterile lines used. The former expressed sterility with ICMA 88994A, 81A, ICMA 94111A and PT 5054A, the latterexpressed sterility with the male sterile lines 81A, 732A, ICMA 94111A and PT 5054A. In case of 732A, maximum restoreswere observed and 10 inbreds showed complete fertility and only one inbred showed complete sterility. The identifiedrestorers and maintainers could be utilized for development of new restorer lines/hybrids and CMS lines, respectively infuture