Performance and estimation genetic variability of M3 pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) populations

Improvement of agronomic characteristics of pearl millet plants such as short plants and high production can be done through plant breeding techniques. The success of plant breeding programs is largely determined by the availability of genetic variability. The application of gamma-ray irradiation is used to increase the genetic variability of pearl millet plants. This study aims to determine the genetic variability and performance in the population and to predict genetic parameters in several characters of pearl millet plants in M3 generation. The research material used was M2 seed from gamma-ray irradiation at doses of 0, 100, 200 and 300 Gy. The observed characters were plant height, the number of nodes per plant, stem diameter, panicle length, panicle diameter, panicle weight of seed weight per panicle and weight of 1000 seeds. The study was conducted from February to April 2019 at Center for Application of Isotope and Radiation, National Nuclear Energy Agency. Through estimating variance, characters that have high heritability and GVC values are not obtained in the four populations (0, 100, 200 and 300 Gy) so that selection cannot be done. The pearl millet phenotype in the M3 generation is more influenced by environmental factors compared to genetic factors, and, therefore, selection is not effective in the M3 generation. Purification in the next generation needs to be done. However, in the populations of 200 and 300 Gy start look potentially to be selected in the next generation.