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Millet Seed Technology

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Millet Seed TechnologySeed Production, Quality Control & Legal Compliance

Vilas A. Tonapi, B Venkatesh Bhat, N Kannababu, M Elangovan, AV UmakanthRaghunath Kulakarni, Krittika V Tonapi, KV Raghavendra Rao and TG Nageshwar Rao

Indian Institute of Millets Research Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, India

ISBN 81-89335-54-5

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Citation: Vilas A. Tonapi, B Venkatesh Bhat, N Kannababu, M Elangovan, AV UmakanthRaghunath Kulakarni, Krittika V Tonapi, KV Raghavendra Rao and TG Nageshwar Rao 2015. Millet Seed Technology: Seed Production, Quality control & Legal compliance. ----PP. . ISBN 81-89335-54-5

Authors

Vilas A Tonapi, Principal Scientist (Seed Science & Technology), Indian Institute of Millets Research,Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, IndiaB Venkatesh Bhat, Principal Scientist Plant Breeding)), Indian Institute of Millets Research,Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, IndiaN Kannababu, Principal Scientist (Seed Science & Technology), Indian Institute of Millets Research,Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, IndiaM Elangovan, Principal Scientist (Economic Botany), Indian Institute of Millets Research,Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, IndiaAV Umakanth, Principal Scientist (Plant Breeding), Indian Institute of Millets Research,Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, IndiaRaghunath Kulakarni, Indian Institute of Millets Research,Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, IndiaKrittika V Tonapi, West Virginia State University, 5000 Fairlawn Ave, Institute, WV 25112, USAKV Raghavendra Rao, Indian Institute of Millets Research,Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, IndiaTG Nageshwara Rao, Director, Indian Institute of Millets Research,Rajendranagar Hyderabad, 500 030, Telangana, India

Published by Society for Millets Research and ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500 030 (Telangana), India

Acknowledgements We acknowledge our sincere thanks to Shri Harshal S Gawali and Shri K Sanath Kumar for their help in bringing out this publication, impeccable. We thankfully acknowledge the various reference materials that have been referred to in this document.

Note: The content in this resource book is drawn and synthesized from an array of our own special topics and various sources. The references from which the information is drawn are gratefully acknowledged and credits have been given under References suggested further readings.


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F O R E W O R DSeed plays a critical role in increasing agricultural productivity; it determines the upper limit

of crop yields and the productivity of all other agricultural inputs to the farming system. The quality seed with high genetic and physical purity, germination, vigor and viability assures the potential of crop production under suitable and favorable agro-climatic conditions. The purity of commercial seed depends on genetic purity of parental lines in nucleus, breeder and foundation seeds in the generation system of seed multiplication. Standardizing seed production technology of new and existing hybrids in relation to agro-ecology, provenance (places most suited for seed production) and suitable techniques in seed production ensures better seed set, profitable seed yield and availability of best quality seeds in the seed trade. But problems in hybrid seed production always relate to the problems in synchrony of the parental lines and the techniques to achieve the same.

Millets (sorghum, pearl millet and small millets) are the important food and fodder crops in semi-arid regions, and are predominantly gaining more importance in a world that is increasingly becoming populous, malnourished and facing large climatic uncertainties. These crops are adapted to wide range of temperatures, moisture-regimes and input conditions supplying food and feed to millions of dryland farmers, particularly in the developing world. Besides they also form important raw material for potable alcohol and starch production, in addition millets are the best candidates to address the millennium goal of “Zero hunger”. To meet nation’s food security needs, it is important to make available to Indian farmers superior quality seeds of all crops including sorghum. Farmers as vital links in seed production, distribution and exchange networks are in search of resultant profitability from the seed production activity. Due to the seed production problems compounding in relation to ecological, agronomic and genetic limitations; the seed set, yield and resultant quality are also affected. In the absence of relevant technological knowledge, the sustained profitable yields and quality traits are at real stake. Hence, strategies to improve seed production, quality and supply must begin with strengthening the public agricultural R&D sector on a long-term, sustainable basis. It will be especially important to build the capacity to move from homogeneous seed recommendations to the development and dissemination of varieties targeted to specific agro-ecological zones and the needs of different groups of farmers.

This book on “Millet Seed Technology” covering both practical and theoretical aspects Seed Production, Quality control & Legal compliance deals in detail on major problems and management aspects related to hybrid and varietal seed technology of sorghum and millets respectively, including seed quality control, testing and legislation to help all the stakeholders to produce better quality seeds to ensure availability and profitability. I congratulate all those involved in bringing out this very useful publication.

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Sorghum .......................................................................................................................................................... 12Origin ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Adaptation ................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Botany ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Crop Specific issues .................................................................................................................................................. 16

Parental line Seed Production .................................................................................................................................. 17

Maintenance breeding ............................................................................................................................................. 19

Sorghum hybrid seed production ............................................................................................................................. 24

Principles of sorghum seed production and maintenance ................................................................................................................................... 30

Seed certification, testing and quality control .......................................................................................................................................................... 42

Pearl millet ...................................................................................................................................................... 83Origin ........................................................................................................................................................................ 83

Adaptation ................................................................................................................................................................ 83

Botany ...................................................................................................................................................................... 84

Crop specific issues ................................................................................................................................................... 84

Seed production ....................................................................................................................................................... 84

Crop improvement and varieties released ............................................................................................................... 85

Seed classes .............................................................................................................................................................. 90

Seed production guidelines ...................................................................................................................................... 90

Field standards ......................................................................................................................................................... 94

Seed standards ......................................................................................................................................................... 94

Seed agronomy & crop management ....................................................................................................................... 94

Crop diseases and pests management ..................................................................................................................... 97

Finger millet .................................................................................................................................................... 98Origin ........................................................................................................................................................................ 98

Adaptation ................................................................................................................................................................ 98

Botany ...................................................................................................................................................................... 98

Crop specific issues ................................................................................................................................................... 99

Seed production ....................................................................................................................................................... 99

Crop improvement and varieties released ............................................................................................................... 99

Field standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 100

Seed standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 100

Seed agronomy & crop management ..................................................................................................................... 101

Crop diseases and pests management ................................................................................................................... 106


C O N T E N T S

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Foxtail millet .................................................................................................................................................. 107Origin ...................................................................................................................................................................... 107

Adaptation .............................................................................................................................................................. 107

Botany .................................................................................................................................................................... 108

Crop specific issues ................................................................................................................................................. 108

Seed production ..................................................................................................................................................... 108

Crop improvement and varieties released ............................................................................................................. 108

Field standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 109

Seed standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 109



Kodo millet .................................................................................................................................................... 112Origin ...................................................................................................................................................................... 112

Adaptation .............................................................................................................................................................. 112

Botany .................................................................................................................................................................... 112


Seed production ..................................................................................................................................................... 113


Field standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 114

Seed standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 114



Little millet .................................................................................................................................................... 117Origin ...................................................................................................................................................................... 117

Adaptation .............................................................................................................................................................. 118

Botany .................................................................................................................................................................... 118


Seed production ..................................................................................................................................................... 119


Field standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 120

Seed standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 121



Proso millet ................................................................................................................................................... 124Origin ...................................................................................................................................................................... 124

Adaptation .............................................................................................................................................................. 124

Botany .................................................................................................................................................................... 125


Seed production ..................................................................................................................................................... 126



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Field standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 127

Seed standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 127



Barnyard millet .............................................................................................................................................. 130Origin ...................................................................................................................................................................... 130

Adaptation .............................................................................................................................................................. 130

Botany .................................................................................................................................................................... 131


Seed production ..................................................................................................................................................... 131


Field standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 132

Seed standards ....................................................................................................................................................... 132



Seed systems, supply and quality assurance ...................................................................................................................................................... 135Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 135

Seed quality assurance ........................................................................................................................................... 136

Minimum seed certification standards ................................................................................................................... 137

Seed legislation ...................................................................................................................................................... 138

Statutory requirements for sale of seed ................................................................................................................. 138

Standards in seed legislation / testing - Sample sizes............................................................................................. 139

Seed standard for physical purity percentage.............................................................................................................................................................. 141

Number of objectionable weed seed/kg ................................................................................................................ 142

Specifications of drying duration and temperature for seed moisture test (mentioned by ISTA) ............................................................................................................................................... 143

Types of seeds required for grinding & size of sieve mesh for action .................................................................................................................................. 144

Seed standards for maximum moisture content/percent ...................................................................................... 144

Germination testing procedures (ISTA) .................................................................................................................. 145

Minimum seed standard for germination percentage.............................................................................................................................................................. 147

Basic principles and concepts of seed quality control ............................................................................................................................................... 148Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 148

Seed quality concepts............................................................................................................................................. 148

Factors affecting seed quality ................................................................................................................................. 149

Seed quality control................................................................................................................................................ 150

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Generation system of seed multiplication: The key to seed quality assurance .................................................................................................................. 153Genetic purity ......................................................................................................................................................... 153

Seed generation system ......................................................................................................................................... 154

Indian Seed Act 1966 .............................................................................................................................................. 156

Seed certification .................................................................................................................................................... 156

Seed sampling principles & procedures .......................................................................................................... 160Objective ................................................................................................................................................................ 160

General principles of sampling ............................................................................................................................... 161

Equipments for sampling ........................................................................................................................................ 161

Method of obtaining primary samples ................................................................................................................... 163

Methods for obtaining working samples ................................................................................................................ 163

Physical purity testing .................................................................................................................................... 169Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 169

Objective ................................................................................................................................................................ 169

Pure seed ................................................................................................................................................................ 169

Other crop seed ...................................................................................................................................................... 170

General principles................................................................................................................................................... 170

Equipments ............................................................................................................................................................ 170

Procedure ............................................................................................................................................................... 170

Definition of pure seed ........................................................................................................................................... 171

Germination testing: Principles and procedure .............................................................................................. 173Germination testing................................................................................................................................................ 173

Essential equipments and supplies for germination test........................................................................................ 173

Testing of substrata ................................................................................................................................................ 174

Test conditions ........................................................................................................................................................ 175

Laboratory procedures ........................................................................................................................................... 176

Germination environment ...................................................................................................................................... 178

Methods to improve germination .......................................................................................................................... 178

Duration of testing.................................................................................................................................................. 179

Evaluation of germination test ............................................................................................................................... 179

Calculation and expression of result ...................................................................................................................... 181

Retesting ................................................................................................................................................................. 182

Reporting of result .................................................................................................................................................. 182

Reasons of variation in the germination test results .............................................................................................. 182

Seed moisture testing .................................................................................................................................... 184Objective ................................................................................................................................................................ 184

Seed ageing and loss of seed germination ............................................................................................................. 184

Determination of seed moisture content ............................................................................................................... 184


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Essential equipments and supplies ........................................................................................................................ 185

Period of seed drying ............................................................................................................................................. 185

Calculation of results .............................................................................................................................................. 186

Use of tolerances .................................................................................................................................................... 187

Reporting of results ................................................................................................................................................ 187

Testing of coated and pelleted seeds .............................................................................................................. 188Definitions .............................................................................................................................................................. 188

Sampling ................................................................................................................................................................. 188

Purity analysis ......................................................................................................................................................... 189

Verification of species ............................................................................................................................................ 190

Reporting results .................................................................................................................................................... 190

The germination test .............................................................................................................................................. 190

Procedure ............................................................................................................................................................... 191

Evaluation ............................................................................................................................................................... 191

Reporting results .................................................................................................................................................... 191

The quick viability test ................................................................................................................................... 192Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 192

Objectives ............................................................................................................................................................... 192

Fields of application ............................................................................................................................................... 192

Mechanism of the reaction .................................................................................................................................... 193

Essential seed structures for TZ test evaluation ..................................................................................................... 193

Some practical consideration ................................................................................................................................. 195

Advantage .............................................................................................................................................................. 196Disadvantages ........................................................................................................................................................ 196

Seed vigour test: concept and application ...................................................................................................... 197Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 197

Performance tests .................................................................................................................................................. 197

Biochemical tests .................................................................................................................................................... 198

Stress tests.............................................................................................................................................................. 198

Significance of vigour tests ..................................................................................................................................... 199

Classification of seed dormancy ..................................................................................................................... 200Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 200

Categories of seed dormancy ................................................................................................................................. 200

Major categories are primary and secondary dormancy ....................................................................................... 200

Exogenous dormancy ............................................................................................................................................. 200

Endogenous dormancy ........................................................................................................................................... 201

Combinational dormancy ....................................................................................................................................... 201

Secondary dormancy .............................................................................................................................................. 201

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Seed processing ............................................................................................................................................. 203Seed drying ............................................................................................................................................................. 203

Seed cleaning and upgrading ................................................................................................................................. 204

Equipment for basic seed cleaning ......................................................................................................................... 204

Seed storage .................................................................................................................................................. 206Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 206

Factors affecting the storability of seed ................................................................................................................. 206

Thumb rule for seed storage .................................................................................................................................. 207

Pests and pathogen ................................................................................................................................................ 207

Good storage practices ........................................................................................................................................... 208

Seed deterioration ......................................................................................................................................... 209Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 209

Seed symptoms ...................................................................................................................................................... 209

Possible causes of seed deterioration .................................................................................................................... 209

Seed enhancement: Principles and procedures .............................................................................................. 212Objectives of seed enhancement ........................................................................................................................... 212

Seed processing ...................................................................................................................................................... 212

Seed priming .......................................................................................................................................................... 212

Methods of priming ................................................................................................................................................ 212

Pre-germinated seeds ............................................................................................................................................ 213

Seed treatment....................................................................................................................................................... 213

Seed coating ........................................................................................................................................................... 213

Film coating ............................................................................................................................................................ 214

Seed pelleting ......................................................................................................................................................... 214

Seed fortification .................................................................................................................................................... 215

Seed infusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 215

Seed tapes, mats and plugs .................................................................................................................................... 216

Seed certification system in India for seed quality assurance ......................................................................... 218Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 218

Milestone in seed certification ............................................................................................................................... 218

Seed certification in Indian context ........................................................................................................................ 218

Varietal development ............................................................................................................................................. 219

Establishment of seed certification agencies ......................................................................................................... 219

Progress of seed certification ................................................................................................................................. 220

Strengthening of seed certification agencies ......................................................................................................... 221

Global experience of seed certification .................................................................................................................. 221

Merits and demerits of seed certification .............................................................................................................. 222

Constraints ............................................................................................................................................................. 222

Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................................. 223


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Rules and regulations related to seed testing ................................................................................................. 224Seed testing network in India ................................................................................................................................. 224

Regulatory mechanism of seed testing laboratory ................................................................................................. 225

Functions of the central seed testing laboratory .................................................................................................... 225

Functions of the state seed laboratories ................................................................................................................ 226

Provisions of seeds act & rules related to seed analyst .......................................................................................... 226

Provision of seeds rules for analysis of seed sample .............................................................................................. 227

Provison for retaining of the seed samples ............................................................................................................ 228

International certificate on seed testing ................................................................................................................ 228

FORM VII ................................................................................................................................................................ 228

Guidelines for the conduct of test for Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability on Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) ..................................................................................... 229Subject .................................................................................................................................................................... 229

Seed material required ........................................................................................................................................... 229

Conduct of tests ..................................................................................................................................................... 230

Methods and observations ..................................................................................................................................... 230

Grouping of varieties .............................................................................................................................................. 231

Characteristics and symbols ................................................................................................................................... 231

Table of characteristics ........................................................................................................................................... 232

Explanations on the table of characteristics ........................................................................................................... 234

Literature ................................................................................................................................................................ 237

Working group details ............................................................................................................................................ 238

Guidelines for the conduct of test for Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability on Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) .................................................................................................................... 239Subject .................................................................................................................................................................... 239

Seed material required ........................................................................................................................................... 239

Conduct of tests ..................................................................................................................................................... 239

Methods and observations ..................................................................................................................................... 240

Grouping of varieties .............................................................................................................................................. 240

Characteristics and symbols ................................................................................................................................... 241

Table of characteristics ........................................................................................................................................... 242

Explanations for the table of characteristics .......................................................................................................... 244

Working group detail ............................................................................................................................................. 248

Draft guidelines for the conduct of tests For Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability on Foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] ............................................................................................................................. 250Subject of these test guidelines ............................................................................................................................. 250

Material required ................................................................................................................................................... 250

Method of examination .......................................................................................................................................... 251

Number of growing cycles ...................................................................................................................................... 251

Testing place ........................................................................................................................................................... 251

Conditions for conducting the examination ........................................................................................................... 251

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Test design .............................................................................................................................................................. 251

Additional tests ...................................................................................................................................................... 251

Assessment of distinctness, uniformity and stability ............................................................................................. 252

Distinctness ............................................................................................................................................................ 252

General recommendations ..................................................................................................................................... 252

Consistent differences ............................................................................................................................................ 252

Clear differences ..................................................................................................................................................... 252

Number of plants / Parts of plants to be examined ............................................................................................... 252

Method of observation........................................................................................................................................... 252

Uniformity .............................................................................................................................................................. 253

Stability ................................................................................................................................................................... 253

Grouping of varieties and oganization of the growing trial .................................................................................... 254

Introduction to the table of characteristics ............................................................................................................ 254

Categories of characteristics................................................................................................................................... 254

Standard test guidelines characteristics ................................................................................................................. 254

Asterisked characteristics ....................................................................................................................................... 255

States of expression and corresponding notes ....................................................................................................... 255

Types of expression ................................................................................................................................................ 256

Example varieties ................................................................................................................................................... 256

Legend .................................................................................................................................................................... 256

Table of Characteristics ........................................................................................................................................... 256

Explanations on the Table of Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 259

Explanations covering several characteristics ........................................................................................................ 259

Explanations for individual characteristics ............................................................................................................. 259

Decimal Code for the Growth Stages of Cereals (Foxtail Millet)............................................................................. 264

The Seeds Act, 1966 ....................................................................................................................................... 267The Seeds Rules, 1968 ................................................................................................................................... 272PART I - PRELIMINARY............................................................................................................................................. 272

PART II - CENTRAL SEED COMMITTEE .................................................................................................................... 272

PART III - CENTRAL SEED LABORATORY ................................................................................................................... 272

PART IV - SEED CERTIFICATION AGENCY ................................................................................................................. 273

PART V - MARKING OR LABELING ........................................................................................................................... 273

PART VII - REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 274

PART VII - CERTIFICATION OF SEEDS ....................................................................................................................... 274

PART VIII - APPEALS ................................................................................................................................................ 275

PART IX - SEED ANALYSTS AND SEED INSPECTORS .................................................................................................. 275

PART X - SEALING, FASTENING, DISPATCH AND ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES ................................................................. 276

PART XI - MISCELLANEOUS ..................................................................................................................................... 277

FORM I .................................................................................................................................................................... 278

FORM II ................................................................................................................................................................... 279

FORM III .................................................................................................................................................................. 279

FORM IV ................................................................................................................................................................. 280


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FORM V .................................................................................................................................................................. 280

FORM VI ................................................................................................................................................................. 281

FORM VII ................................................................................................................................................................ 281

(Certificate of test and/or analysis by the Seed Analyst) ........................................................................................ 281

FORM VIII ............................................................................................................................................................... 281

The Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 .................................................................................................................... 283PRELIMINARY.......................................................................................................................................................... 283

DEALER IN SEEDS TO BE LICENSED ......................................................................................................................... 283

ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY ................................................................................................................................... 284

MISCELLANEOUS .................................................................................................................................................... 284

Amendments to seeds Act, 1966 .................................................................................................................... 289The Draft Seed Bill, 2010(Revised Seeds Act)........................................................................................................................................ 319ANNEXURES ............................................................................................................................................................ 344

Annexure-I: Allocation of breeder’s seed production (national varieties) - BSP I ................................................... 344

Annexure-II: Time table of production & availability of breeder’s seed (national varieties) - BSP II ...................... 345

Annexure-III: Inspection report of the monitoring team (national varieties) –BSP III ............................................ 346

Annexure-IV: Breeder seed actually produced – BSP IV ......................................................................................... 347

Annexure-V: Grow out test report (national varieties) – BSP V .............................................................................. 348

Annexure-VI: Breeder seed distribution (national varieties) – BSP VI .................................................................... 349

Annexure-VII: Calendar of operations for production and distribution of breeder’s seed ..................................... 350

Annexure-VIII: Field inspection report for sorghum ............................................................................................... 352

Annexure-IX: Field map .......................................................................................................................................... 353

Annexure-X: Rejection of seed production area on account of poor roguing ........................................................ 354

Annexure-XI: Rejection of seed production area on account of inadequate isolation ........................................... 355

Annexure-XII: Threshing certificate ........................................................................................................................ 356

Annexure-XIII: Certificate ....................................................................................................................................... 357

Annexure-XIV: Revalidation certificate ................................................................................................................... 358

Annexure-XV: Specification for labels (breeder seed) ............................................................................................ 359

Annexure-XVI: Specification of lables (foundation / certified seed) ....................................................................... 360

Annexure-XVII: Specification for certification tags ................................................................................................. 361

Annexure-XVIII: List of state seed development corporations ............................................................................... 363

Annexure-XIX: State seed certification agencies .................................................................................................... 364

References and suggested further readings ........................................................................................................... 365

Glossary .................................................................................................................................................................. 367

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Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) belongs to the family Poaceae and was domesticated in

different areas of Africa. Sorghum is one of the main staple food for the world’s poorest and most food insecure people across the semi-arid tropics. Globally, sorghum is cultivated on 41 million hectares to produce 64.20 million tones, with productivity howering around 1.60 tonnes per hectare. With exceptions in some regions, it is mainly produced and consumed by poor

peasant farmers. India contributes about 16% of the world’s sorghum production. It is the fourth most important cereal crop in the country. In India, this crop was one of the major cereal staple during 1950’s and occupied an area of more than 18 million ha but has come down to 7.53 million ha. The overall increase in productivity in kharif sorghum is far more than the same of rabi sorghum. However, both the loss in area and production is greater in kharif sorghum than in rabi. The coverage with high yielding varieties (HYVs) of sorghum is nearly 80% in kharif and potential under moderate input is also high (4-6 t ha-1). In the rice fallows, under the zero tillage conditions, grain productivity is as high as 7 to 8 tonnes per hectare. The utilization of kharif sorghum grain as a raw material in various industries is increasing, given the limited prospects of rainy season (kharif) sorghum for human consumption. Post-rainy season sorghum is a highly valued food grain, and too expensive to be used as industrial raw material. The main industries currently using sorghum in India are the poultry feed, animal feed and alcohol distilleries while its usage is quite sporadic in starch and biofuel industry, but holds a great promise as non-glutenous health food.

Sorghum – Great Millet

Origin Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench origin and

domestication has taken place in Africa about 5000 – 8000 years ago. Indian subcontinent is the secondary origin of sorghum. The evidence for its cultivation was discovered at Saurastra dating back to about 4500 years. Sorghum was probably brought to India from eastern Africa during the first millennium BC. It is reported to have existed there around 1000 BC. The sorghums of India are related to those of northeastern Africa and the coast between Cape Guardafui and Mozambique. A major step in the process of domestication of sorghum is the loss of the seed shattering characteristic (Mann etal., 1983). Harlan (1975) asserted that domestication of sorghum occurred over time and in several areas where it was probably ennobled

many times over several years. He envisions that early domestication occurred in an area extending from near the Ethiopian border, west through Sudan and up to Lake Chad. There is great diversity in this area as well as the presence of the primitive race bicolor (Harlan and de Wet, 1972).

AdaptationSorghum is the fifth most important cereal

crop in the world and grown on 44 million ha in 99 countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The Major sorghum producers are the USA, India, Nigeria, China, Mexico, Sudan and Argentina. Sorghum occupies 25% or more of arable land in Mauritania, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Somalia and Yemen, and >10% of this area in Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Tanzania and Mozambique.

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Most of it is grown for direct human use (>55%). The grain is mostly consumed in the form of flat breads (Bhakri) and porridges (thick or thin); stover is an important source of dry season maintenance rations for livestock, especially in Asia; also an important feed grain (33%), especially in the Americas.

BotanySorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is

grown worldwide for food, feed, fodder, fuel and for several industrial products such as starch, syrup, ethanol, lager beer and malt. In India, sorghum is the most important cereal crop grown across semi-arid zones. The development and release of sorghum hybrids in India since 1963 has resulted in quantum jump in productivity from 570 kg ha-1 in 1970’s to >1000 kg ha-1 in recent years. Sorghum hybrid developmental efforts encompassed temperate × tropical crosses by manipulating height and maturity genes, and the critical growth stages (seedling, flowering and grain filling).

Sorghum plant has a single solid erect stem supported by a strong adventitious root system (Figure 1). Sorghum can tiller, but tillering capacity

is dependent on the cultivar and environmental conditions, especially tillering is profuse at low temperature. The cylinder of stem with the clasping sheath is called as culm. The culm thickness at the base may vary from 0.5 to 5.0 cm in diameter with 0.5 to 4.0 m long in height, exhibiting series of nodes and internodes. Leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, usually in two ranks. Each leaf originates from a node and has a sheath and blade or lamina.

Sorghum plant morphologyThe leaf sheaths have overlapping margins and

encircle the internodes, depending on internode length. The leaf blade may be 1.5 to 13 cm wide and 30 to 135 cm long. Leaf number can vary from 7 to 30 depending on the cultivar and its growth duration. The uppermost internode bears the inflorescence and is called as peduncle. Sorghum is known as short–day plant, hence, long nights (dark period) are required for floral initiation; and each cultivar needs a specific critical period of darkness for transformation of its vegetative bud to into a floral bud. Length of maturity in sorghum is governed by four major genes (Ma1, Ma2, Ma3, and Ma4) called as maturity genes with multiple alleles at each of the four loci. Plant height is similarly controlled by four major genes called dwarfing genes (Dw1, Dw2, Dw3, and Dw4), which effect plant height due to reduction in internodal length. The interaction of height and maturity genes with changing photoperiod and temperature results in significant variation in crop morphology and behavior.Floral biology

The sorghum panicles may be 4–25 cm long and 2–20 cm wide, which may be short and compact or loose and open. The inflorescence is a raceme consisting of one or several spikelets. Racemes vary in length depending upon number of nodes and length of internodes. The sessile spikelet varies in shape from lanceolate to almost round and ovate and is sometimes depressed in the middle. The lower glume is usually somewhat flattened and


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conforms more or less to the shape of the spikelet, while the upper one is more convex or boat-shaped. The seed may be enclosed by the glume or may protrude from the glume.

Parts of fertile sorghum spikelet

The seed may be just visible or almost completely exposed. In sessile spikelets, there are two lemmas, two lodicules and a palea. The pedicelled spikelets are much narrower than the sessile spikelets and are usually lanceolate. They are male or neutral in sex, but may rarely have a rudimentary ovary. The lemmas are much reduced in size and only rarely does the upper lemma have awn. Sorghum has 2 pistils and 3 stamens. Each fluffy stigma is attached to a short and stout style extending to the ovary. The anthers are attached to long thread like filaments.

Spikelets of sorghum. A: Pair of spikelets; B: Fertile spikelet

Anthesis and pollinationThe floral initiation (Primordial formation)

starts at 30 to 40 days after germination (but may range from 19 to 70 days or more) Floral initiation marks the end of the vegetative growth and the meristematic activity. Sorghum usually flowers in 55 to 70 days in warm climates, but it could be as early as 30 days or as late as 100 days or more. The flowering (anthesis) in a panicle starts from the top and it travels successively to lower whorls. Flowering is completed over a period of 4 to 5 days (6-8 days under cooler conditions).

Pollen is usually available for a period of 10 to 15 days because the heads in a field do not flower at the same time. Sorghum is predominantly a

Floral (Primordial) initiation

Process of panicle emergence and basipetal flowering (from top to bottom)

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Table 1: Variability in different plant morphological characters and seed traits in sorghum

S.No. Character Stage Variation1 Plant height Vegetative Tall (> 225 cm) / medium (< 225 cm)2 Plant color Vegetative Pigmented (gray brown groups) / Tan (yellowish)3 Juiciness Vegetative Juicy / Corky4 Leaf Vegetative Erect / semi-erect / droopy5 Leaf midrib color Vegetative White / dull green / greenish yellow / brown purple6 Leaf color Vegetative Dark green / green / light green7 Leaf sheath waxyness Vegetative Less waxy/ Medium waxy/ Highly waxy8 Stem thickness Vegetative Thin (< 3 cm) / medium (3-8 cm) / thick (> 8 days)9 Internode covering Vegetative Covered/ Slightly exposed/Completely exposed

10 Days to 50% flowering Reproductive Early (< 60 days) / late (> 75 days)11 Panicle compactness Reproductive Very lax / very loose with erect primary branches /

very loose drooping primary branches / loose erect primary branches / loose drooping primary branches / semi-loose erect primary branches / semi-loose drooping primary branches

12 Panicle shape Reproductive semi compact elliptic / compact elliptic / compact oval / half broom corn / broom corn/ Broader at upper/ Broader at Lower/ Pyramidal/ Symmetric

13 Panicle exsertion Reproductive Completely exerted / Partially exerted / Minimal exertion with and without flag leaf attachment to the panicle base.

14 Glume color Maturity White / sienna / mahogany / red / purple / black / gray.

15 Seed covering Maturity 25% of grain covered / 50% grain covered / 75% grain covered / grain fully covered / glumes longer than grain.

16 Awns Maturity Awned / awnless.17 Days to maturity Maturity Early (< 90 days) / medium (90-120 days) / late (9-120

days)18 Shattering Maturity Very low / low / intermediate / high / very high.19 Seed color Maturity White / yellow / red / brown / buff.20 Seed luster Maturity Lustrous / non-lustrous.21 Seed sub coat Maturity Present / absent.22 Seed plumpness Maturity Dimple / plump.23 Seed form Maturity Single / twin.24 Endosperm texture Maturity Completely corneous / mostly corneous / intermediate

/ starchy. 25 Endosperm color Maturity White / yellow.26 Endosperm type Maturity Normal / waxy (Corneous) / sugary (Starchy).

self-fertilized crop, but the cross pollination may occur to an extent of 2 to 10 percent. At flowering, the glumes open and the three anthers fall free, while the two stigmas protrude, each on a stiff style. Flowering occurs just before or just after sunrise, but may be delayed on cloudy damp

mornings. The anthers dehisce when they are dry. For selfing, the panicle is merely covered with a paper bag. Pollen is shed freely and can always be collected in bags enclosing the spikes. Crossing made before 10.00 AM generally sets maximum amount of seed per head.


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Crop Specific issuesParental line Seed Production

Sorghum seed multiplication chainIn India, the seed multiplication is in four stage

generation system:• Nucleus seed (NS)• Breeder seed (BS)• Foundation seed (FS)• Certified seed (CS)

The seed certification under law is voluntary as per Seeds Act of 1966 and is applicable to only notified kind of varieties. However, as per Draft Seeds Bill, 2002, only registered kind of varieties that prove DUS and VCU are eligible to be permitted under seed trade and voluntary certification system. Apart from SC, the seed is also sold as truthfully labeled seed (TLC). However the certified seed has the advantage of the seed crop being monitored by an authorized agency to ensure high genetic and physical purity, freedom from disease and pest, high germination and seedling vigor. The seed of different classes is produced based on demand forecasting of annual certified seed requirement depending on seed multiplication ratio, seed

replacement rate and additional seed requirement.

a) Nucleus seedThe handful of initial seed obtained from

selected individual plants of a particular variety produced by the originating breeder or the institute constitutes the nucleus seed. It is not covered under the purview of certification, is produced in small quantities on experiment stations by the breeder under his direct supervision, and forms the basis for further multiplication of breeder, foundation, and certified seed.

b) Breeder seedIt is the progeny of nucleus seed. It bears a

golden yellow tag issued by the producing breeder. Its production is organized by the ICAR through the ICAR institutes, Agricultural Universities and seed corporations in certain crops on the basis of indents received from Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Breeder seed production also does not come under the purview of certification. However, production and genetic purity are monitored by the monitoring team consisting of the project coordinator, nominees of

Breeder seed plot monitoring

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national seed corporation, state seed corporation and state seed certification agency. For the hybrid seed production chain, needs three basic seed lines: male sterile line (A- line), maintainer line (B- line) and restorer line (R- line). The seed of A- line is produced by planting A- and B- lines side by side in isolated. This process will give the A- line seed perpetually. The B- and R- lines can be reproduced easily like any other self pollinated variety. The seed obtained from breeder is normally in small quantities (up to few kilograms). Breeder seed plots should be at least 400 m away from other sorghum field, Johnson grass, and other forage or grassy sorghum types. The seed production estimates for different class of seeds can be calculated by multiplying area and quantity with a factor × 200 as shown in Table 2.

c) Foundation seedIt is the progeny of breeder seed. It is

genetically and physically pure, satisfying the minimum certification standards. Foundation seed is produced by National Seed Corporation, State Seed Corporations, State Farms Corporation of India, State Agricultural Universities and designated public and private sector agencies. The foundation seed shall be the source for production of certified seed. Foundation seed bears white tag on certification. The breeder seed alone should be used to plant the foundation seed plots isolated from other sorghum fields at least by 300 m. Before flowering, grower should search for and destroy all volunteer plants on field borders and ditches, and in nearby fields lying within the isolation distance. Obvious off-types are roughed out before flowering to meet foundation seed standards. The off-types

permitted at the final inspection depend on the seed certification standards and normally genetic purity should exceed 95%.

d) Certified seedIt is the progeny of foundation seed. It should

satisfy the prescribed seed standards. In case of sorghum, Maharashtra State Seed Corporation (MSSC), Andhra Pradesh State Seed Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Karnataka State Seed Corporation (KSSC) are the four major agencies that produce certified seed. Various private seed companies compliment these public sector agencies in sorghum hybrid seed production. Some private companies market both private and public sector hybrids. To produce hybrids, the foundation seed of A- and R- lines are used by certified seed growers. This seed is normally certified by a team of specialists from the State seed certification agency, scientists of research station and state seed corporation. Certified seed bears blue tag. Approved foundation seed alone should be used and planted in large contiguous blocks with an isolation of at least 200 m from other sorghum fields. Rouging can be practiced to remove off-types. The permitted off-types at the final inspection depend on the seed certification standards; normally off-types should not exceed 0.1%. Maintenance breeding

The maintenance breeding is also called as nucleus and breeder seed production, involves the following purification:a) Cytoplasmic male-sterile line (A- line)b) Maintainer line (B- line) c) Restorer line (R- line)

Table 2: Estimation of seed targets [ton (t)] and area requirement [hectare (ha)] for different classes of seed multiplication.

Breeder seed Foundation seed Certified seed Commercial grainArea (ha) 0.5 hectares 100 hectares 20,000 hectares 4 m haQuantity (t) 1 tonne 200 tonnes 40,000 tonnes


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d) Open pollinated variety, a) Nucleus seed production of A- and B- lines

Seed quality with all it ramifications, must be with cardinal virtue in the seed chain. The purity of commercial seed depends on genetic purity of parental lines in nucleus, breeder and foundation seed class. The success, longevity and productivity of the hybrids depend on the maintenance of genetic purity of parental lines. The scheme of nucleus seed production is depicted below.

Season I

Select the individual plants of A- and B- lines from good quality breeder or foundation seed plots grown in large areas (0.25 to 0.50 ha) based on specific distinguishing morphological traits that enable genotype characterization.

1. Raise 200 to 300 rows (each 5 m length) each of A- and B- lines obtained by pooling seeds from selected ear heads.

2. Examine designated morphological traits specially those which are not influenced by genotype × environment interactions such as compactness of ear head from top to bottom and secondary branch distribution, number of whorls, shape of apex, panicle branch distribution at bottom, middle and at apex, glume characteristics (shape, size and color) and awn characteristics.

3. Tag the individual A- and B- plants which are true to type plants. Self the individual tagged plants in B-lines and make the paired crosses between A- and B- at flowering. The ear heads of B-lines and A × B crosses should be labeled properly such as A1 × B1, A2 × B2,…….…A200 × B200. Harvest the individual plants as per labeling. The A-lines should be harvested after B- lines. After proper threshing and drying, store the properly labeled packets. In the laboratory examine the seed of each plant

carefully on the table for uniformity in color, shape and size of seed. Discard the seed from panicles not in conformity (deviating head) from the original

true to type collection used as a seed source. Season II1. Raise plant to progeny rows such as B- line

and A × B crosses from the selected 200 to 300 plants. Retain some portion of seed as remnant seed for all the B line plants and A×B crosses.

2. Observe the individual plants in progeny rows for diagnostic characters. Uproot the rows not confirming to the designated characteristics of the line. The A- lines showing pollen shedders and the corresponding B- lines should also be rejected.

3. Examine for seed morphological characters in laboratory as per the parental line descriptors. Discard the seed of progeny row in case of doubtful deviants, if any.

4. Identify the best progenies (about 50) of A- and B- lines confirming to the designated characters of the parental lines. The remnant seeds of selected best progenies from the original A- and B- plants are identified and bulked separately (of A and B lines), this forms the nucleus seed.

b) Nucleus seed production of R- line

Season I1. Grow a large number of R- line plants.2. At flowering, self about 1000 plants conforming

to the designated morphological characters of the line.

3. Finally select about 200 plants based on field.4. After harvest, rejection is also done based on

deviations in seed color, shape, size, etc.

Season II1. Grow plant from about 200 panicles (row

progeny of the selected plants) in two replications. Retain a portion of selfed produce as remnant seed from Season I.

2. Study progeny rows for the diagnostic characters. The lines not confirming to the characters of the parental line should be rejected. If adequate number of progeny rows confirming to the lines are not found, selfing for

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one more generation will be required. 3. It is desirable to test selfed plants of R- lines for

their restoration ability. 4. Evaluate the lines for economic traits and

disease resistance characters as well.5. Identify the best progeny rows (about 50) based

on the diagnostic descriptors of R- line.

Season III1. Grow the bulk seed of remnant seed from

Season I fraction in isolation.2. Ensure adequate pollination during flowering.3. Bulk the seed of all the plants after the harvest.4. This forms the nucleus seed of R- line.

c) Breeder seed production of A- lineBreeder seed of A- line is produced with

the breeder stock seed derived from nucleus seed. Breeder seed field is jointly monitored by a team consisting of producing breeder, project coordinator, and nominees of National Seeds

Corporation, State Seed Corporation and State Seed Certification Agency.

Crop management practices1. The breeder seed field should be clean, fertile,

leveled and with proper irrigation and drainage facilities. Sorghum should not have been grown in the previous year. This is to ensure that no volunteer from previous crop interferes with breeder seed plants. The seed plot should be isolated by 400 m from other sorghum fields. Johnson grass and Sudan grass should be altogether avoided.

2. A planting ratio of 4:2 (A : B) is recommended for better pollen dispersal. The row spacing should be sufficient to permit examination of plants in rows for possible mixture of off-types.

3. The seed rate of 7.5 kg A- line and 5 kg B- line per ha is recommended for A- line seed production.

4. To facilitate rouging operations, a spacing of 60

Minimum 400m isolation Grow large number of plants Step I

Step II

Laboratory evaluation

Keep remnant seeds of each progeny after sowing

Discard the progenies showing even slightest

deviation

Remnant seeds of step II of selected progenies be

bulked and used

Self about 500 - 600 plants those confirm with distinguishable traits of a parental line / variety. Finally

select 200 plants based on field and lab screening.

Progeny evaluationGrow individual plant seed in ear to row plot

Identify about 50% progenies confirming to varietal traits

Grow nucleus seed nursery in isolation and bulk the seed of all plants after the harvest

Nucleus Seed Stock

Breeder Seed Production


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× 20 cm is most suited. Precautions should be taken to avoid accidental admixing of parental lines.

5. Start rouging before off-types, volunteers or shedders in the female row starts shedding pollen. The sterile types show only the stigma or a few abortive anthers exerted. These should not be mistaken for normal fertile plants. Normal fertile plants show rich yellow anthers, full of pollen in both the lobes. Upon shedding, these lobes rupture at distal end to discharge pollen. The out of place plants, i.e., plants between the rows, male plants in female rows and vice versa should be strictly removed at the earliest opportunity. Special attention should be given at the periphery where the border rows and seed rows meet, since there is chance of admixed seed germinating. In both A- and B- lines, 100% genetic purity should be ensured.

6. Breeder should offer the seed crop for joint inspection by the monitoring team during the crop growth stages approximately after 30-40 days after sowing, during flowering and at maturity (total 3 times).

7. Tapping the male plants or blowing the air over male panicles with empty duster may be done ensure uniform pollen transfer to female panicles.

8. The B- lines should be harvested at appropriate maturity, dried, threshed and stored under proper conditions. During harvesting and processing, the equipment used must be scrupulously cleaned and freed from mechanical mixtures. This standard of cleanliness should be extended during seed packing and transportation also.

9. The seed thus obtained should be properly labeled as A- and B- line seed and stored separately under clean and hygienic conditions.

d) Nucleus seed production of sorghum varieties

Season I1. Grow a large number of plants of a variety

whose seed is being produced.2. Self about 500 plants confirming to the

designated characters of the cultivar at flowering. Finally select about 200 plants based on field observations.

3. After the harvest, rejection may be done based on laboratory examination for deviation in seed color, shape, size, etc.

Season II1. Grow plant to row (5m length) progeny of the

selected plants in two replications. Retain a portion of selfed seed from Season I as remnant seed fraction.

2. Study the progeny rows for the diagnostic characters. The lines not confirming to the designated characters of the variety be rejected. Variation in plants may be with regard to plant height, leaf traits, flowering and maturity period, diseases and pest reaction, and panicle types. If adequate number of progeny rows confirming to the lines are not found, self for one more generation.

3. Evaluate lines for economic and disease resistance traits.

4. Identify the best progeny rows (about 50) based on all the diagnostic descriptors of the variety.

5. These rows should be harvested separately with labels and the seed of individual ear to rows should be cleaned and table-examined kThe deviants, if any, should be discarded.

Season III1. Grow the bulk seed in isolation from remnant

seed fraction (Season I). 2. Ensure adequate pollination during flowering.3. Bulk the seed of all the plants after the harvest.4. This forms the nucleus seed of the variety being

tested.

e) Breeder seed production of B- lineThe breeder seed production of B-line should be

carried out independent of A- line seed production as per seed production norms.

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1. Nucleus seed should be the source for the breeder seed production of B- line.

2. General agronomic management practices as described should be adopted.

3. The field and isolation requirements are same as in A-line breeder seed production (400 m).

4. Before flowering, the out-row crosses can be identified with their height and color differences. Rouging should be started before off-types or volunteers start shedding pollen. All rouges and volunteer plants must be cut at the ground level or better still pulled out to prevent re-growth and subsequent contamination and disease and pest dispersal to seed crop. Eliminate other relative contaminants, Johnson grass and Sudan grass existing within the isolation distance.

5. Conduct inspections thrice by monitoring team at vegetative, flowering and maturity stages.

6. Harvesting the crop at physiological maturity (commensurate with black layer formation at the hilar end of seed). Strict hygeine at harvesting, processing, transporting, and storage is a must.

f) Breeder seed production of R- line 1. Breeder seed of R- line is produced from the

bulked nucleus R-line seed source. 2. Seed crop should be isolated by 400 m from all

contaminants.3. Best farming procedures and rouging operations

should be followed. Before flowering, the out crosses can be identified with their height and color differences. Start rouging before off-types and volunteers start shedding pollen. All rouges and volunteer plants must be cut at ground level or preferably pulled out to prevent re-growth or spread of disease and pest to seed crop. Eliminate other sorghum types, Johnson grass and Sudan grass existing within the isolation distance.

4. The R-line seed plots should be well monitored to required standards.

5. After harvest at physiological maturity, the seeds from all plants should be bulked, dried, threshed, packed and stored hygienically.

g) Breeder seed production of sorghum varieties 1. Nucleus seed produced by the breeder through

pure line selection should be used as source of seed for the production of breeder seed.

2. General agronomic management practices as recommended should be followed.

3. Strict isolation distance of 400 m from all contaminants should be adhered to.

4. Best farming procedures and rouging operations

Breeder seed plot of AKR 150

Breeder seed plot of variety M 35-1


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should be followed. The out-crosses reflecting height and color differences should be rouged before off-types start shedding the pollen. All rouges and volunteer plants must be cut from ground level or preferably pulled out to prevent re-growth and

5. subsequent contamination of seed crop with diseases and pests. Eliminate other sorghum types, Johnson grass and Sudan grass existing within the isolation distance.

6. Conduct inspections by monitoring team at vegetative, flowering and maturity stages (thrice).

7. After harvest at physiological maturity, the seeds of all plants should be bulked and maintained.

Sorghum hybrid seed productionThe cytoplasmic-genetic male sterility, induced

by interaction of sterility-inducing factors in the cytoplasm with the genetic factors contained in the nucleus, forms the basis of hybrid seed production. The sorghum hybrids can be developed as follows.

a) Identification of potential hybrid parents (A-, B-, and R- lines)

Potential male and female parents for hybrid seed production are identified by crossing male-fertile plants (inbreds, varieties, germplasm, breeding stocks in advanced generations, etc.) to a male-sterile line (A-line) and evaluating the corresponding hybrids in small plots in an observation nursery. A few plants of each cross are subjected to a bagging test, i.e., covering few panicles with paper bags before anthesis, and observing seed set under the bag after few weeks. A normal bisexual fertile panicle would exhibit nearly 100% seed set whereas in crosses with A-lines, the following three catagories are encountered. 1. Hybrids without seed set (i.e., male-sterility) is

maintained in these hybrids. The corresponding pollen parent is classified as a non-restorer / maintainer or B- line.

2. Hybrids with complete seed set under the bag

(i.e., male fertility) being completely restored in these hybrids. The corresponding pollen parent is classified as a potential male parent / restorer line (R- line) and could be useful in producing hybrids.

3. Hybrids exhibiting partial seed set under the bag. Such hybrids and their male parents are rejected for further studies because experience shows that it is difficult to extract stable R-lines or B-lines from such parents.

The hybrids, with complete seed set under bag are evaluated visually local genotypes as checks. Various agronomic traits such as days to maturity, plant height, fodder yield, grain color, quality, panicle size, hybrid vigor, grain yield, threshability and resistance to diseases and pests are considered. Selected hybrids are advanced for further studies and their corresponding male parents are included in the R- line collection.

b) Hybrid (A x R) seed production (certified seed)

The hybrid seed is produced as certified seed under the vigilance of state seed certification agencies on a very large scale by private agencies, seed farms, experienced growers, and other extension organizations. Sorghum hybrids involve A × R seed production and are carried out according to the prescribed standards of production and processing in terms of isolation distance, genetic purity, and seed quality.

Seed certification and seed law enforcement agencies have an important role to play in certified hybrid seed production and distribution, because the crop performance is dependent on the quality of the certified seed used. Although production of hybrid seed can be carried out by small individual growers, it is convenient to grow it in large compact blocks of 100-150 ha in a single or cluster of adjoining villages to avoid isolation problems. The quantity of certified seed produced depends upon the projected demand for the seed of a particular cultivar; normally an excess of 20% over the

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demand is produced. The requirements of isolation distance must be satisfied by a negotiated contract between a contract grower or group of farmers living in a community (seed village) and the seed firm. The seed companies train supervisory staff who will in turn advise and assist the seed growers in hybrid seed production across critical crop growth stages. Close communication between seed growers and the company supervisory staff during the entire hybrid seed production season facilitates quality hybrid seed production.

c) Basics of sorghum hybrid seed production Sorghum hybrid seed production is a highly

commercial venture. It is essential to maintain efficient level of crop management in order to maximize production at minimum cost. The guidelines for hybrid seed production are as follows:

Selection of area and fieldCommercial seed production must be carried

out in a systematic manner. Selection of areas and seasons free from disease and pests is very important before planning a sorghum seed production program. Hybrid seed production agencies have to identify suitable areas for efficient seed production through preliminary experimentation. Areas endemic to serious disease, pest, and obnoxious weed like Sorghum halepense and Striga are not suitable. Areas that are prone to natural disasters such as floods, excessive rains or high humidity during the grain filling stages of sorghum could cause grain molds, discoloration, weathering, and pre-harvest sprouting, all of which affect seed germination and seed quality. Days to 50% flowering of the

Steps in producing hybrid sorghum seed by utilizing cytoplasmic male sterility


13

hybrid parents, productivity vs. cost, and climatic conditions, particularly during grain-filling stages, should be important considerations to select an area for seed production. If seed production is planned for off-season, access to irrigation facilities is important. Sugary disease (Claviceps sorghi and Claviceps africana) is prevalent in hybrid seed production plots of sorghum where female parent is highly susceptible. The seeds infested with pest and disease will loose their vigor and viability at faster rate in storage and will become unfit for planting within a very short period. As successful disease and insect pest management is one of the most important factors in raising healthy seed production, seed plots of all categories should be raised from seed treated with proper fungicide and insecticide.

SeasonThe seed of commercial hybrids is produced

in dry weather of rabi (hot monsoon) and summer seasons both by public and private sector seed agencies and marketed in summer season itself. However, seed for rabi has to be stored till the next rabi. Consequently, there will be revalidation and storage loss problems. The seed production in rabi is predominantly concentrated in Andhra Pradesh and adjacent part of Karnataka due to favorable agro-ecology. Rabi seed production in Andhra Pradesh has obvious advantages over kharif production due to the following reasons.

1. Seed production under assured irrigation.2. Warm rabi temperature in Andhra Pradesh

and adjoining areas is conducive for better seed growth than cold temperature spells in Maharashtra and other northern states.

3. Crop maturation under clean weather condition ensures high germination, better luster and healthy bold seed.

4. Better feasibility of staggering, manipulation of nicking / synchrony of flowering.

5. Timely harvest and drying in summer months at field and processing.

6. Expeditious supply of seed for kharif sowing

minimizes the storage and quality losses..Determining the hybrid seed quantity targets

The quantities of hybrid seed required should be roughly estimated on an annual basis in advance, depending upon the projected demand for the commercial hybrids under cultivation. It is desirable to maintain significant quantities of carry-over seed as an insurance against unforeseen seed crop losses.

Planting ratioMale sterile (A) and restorer (R) lines are sown

in alternate strips of rows, normally in 4(A):2R ratio, depending on the experience of seed grower, success experienced over years and the ability of the R-line to disperse the pollen. The borders on all four sides of the hybrid seed production field are sown with the restorer (R) line to ensure adequate supply of pollen and as a guard against contaminating stray pollen. The ideal planting ratio between male and female lines is two male rows alternated by 4 to 6 female rows. If the male line has smaller earheads and shorter flowering span than the female line (as in case of CSH 14 and CSH 15R), then it is desirable to allow only four female rows for each pair of male rows. The female rows for each pair of male rows can be increased to six if the male lines have larger panicle and longer span of flowering. A five row thick border all around the seed production plots must always be provided. Economizing on male lines both within the plots and borders may affect the seed set.

Isolation requirement for hybrid seed plot

Minimum isolation of 300 m is generally recommended for hybrid seed production. In case of sorghum, a distance of at least 400 m is necessary if Johnson grass and other forage or other grassy relatives exist in the growing vicinity. Time isolation (staggered sowing of seed plots to avoid overlapping in flowering of the seed crop and the adjacent crop) is not permitted for sorghum seed production excepting experimental stations where seed crop is grown under the supervision of sponsored breeder. In view of large number of

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hybrids being released and commercially cultivated, getting required isolations (300 to 400 meters for foundation and 200 to 400 meters for certified seed crops) is increasingly becoming difficult. Therefore, it is necessary that seed production is planned hybrid-wise in few clusters of villages as envisaged under the seed village concept. Each cluster can have 2-3 contiguous villages covering more than 200 ha. The number of clusters may depend on the total seed required based on demand and supply. Compact blocks aid easy supervision, maintenance of quality, minimizing the nicking and isolation problems and will also serve as demonstration blocks. Exploitation of non-traditional areas for sorghum hybrid seed production is another alternative to solve the isolation problems. However careful planning, handling and extension of seed production technology to seed growers are prerequisites to launch of seed programs in non-traditional areas.

Plant heightMost of the sorghum hybrid parental lines have

matching heights in the rabi season facilitating easy pollination process. The problem of height disparity can be avoided to some extent by planting

the short parent on the raised ridges and the taller parent in the furrows below. Selective urea sprays that elongate the peduncle can also aid to increase the plant height to some extent.

Nicking and ensuring synchronizationIt is essential that the parental lines chosen for

hybrid seed production flower at the same time i.e, the viable pollen is available when stigmas are receptive. Therefore, prior knowledge on flowering patterns of both the parents in hybrid seed production is necessary. The male and female parents of the various hybrids, with different degrees of photo-and thermo-sensitivities may react differentially under different daylength and temperatures at various locations, seasons or planting dates. Several methods are employed to ensure synchrony. The commonly followed technique is staggered planting i.e., adjusting the planting dates of the parents so that they flower simultaneously. If the difference in flowering between the two parents is only 2-4 days, it is possible to manipulate it through selective foliar application of 1-2% urea to the late parent at flower primordial initiation stage (between 30-40 days after planting), and is repeated 3-5 times on alternative days depending on need and practical

A breeder seed production plot with 4:2 (Female: Male) planting ratio


15

experience of the farmer. If the flowering differs between the parents, ratooning of the early parent at appropriate time could be followed. In case of non-synchrony, dusting or spraying of pollen collected from the male parent, if available in the vicinity can resorted to. Hybrids with simultaneous nicking of parental lines when sown on the same day are ideal, because a difference of 4-5 days in flowering between two parents could seriously affect seed set on the male-sterile line. If parents differ in their days to 50% flowering by more than 3 days, staggered sowing is recommended. Under rain-fed conditions staggered sowing may be difficult. Preliminary data on flowering behavior of the parents, pollen production efficiency and stigma receptivity aid in successful commercial hybrid seed production in new areas.

Measures for successful synchronization of flowering of male and female parents• The growth stages of male and female parents

should be critically examined at 4-weeks stage or even later depending upon the length of their vegetative growth period.

• The flower primordia and the apex of male and female plants be sampled randomly and observed critically by stripping the leaves of stem. The difference in the time of initiation and size of the panicle bud (primordial) would indicate the difference in their time to 50% flowering.

• The growth and flowering in lagging parent can be hastened by selective measures like supplemental nitrogen application (additional dose of 50kg N/ha) followed by foliar spray of urea spray (1-2%), soaking of seeds in water (seed priming or seed hardening), and GA spray at primordial initiation stage.

• Alternatively, selective irrigation of one parent and delayed irrigation of the other will also help in synchronizing the flowering dates of the parents. Irrigation under cool climate may futher delay flowering.

• Careful manipulation of nitrogenous fertilizer

application, foliar spray of GA and irrigation can synchronize the flowering of parents that differ by up to one week.

• If the male is advanced in the early stage due to adverse seasonal conditions, cut alternate plants to allow the tillers to come up and boost up such tillers with additional dose of nitrogen.

• In case of partial seed setting, sugary disease (ergot) may occur. However, making available pollen to achieve good seed set ensures better control of ergot disease.

Pollen production and dispersalThe pollen production is influenced by

temperatures. During winter, especially in areas where the night temperatures are rather low, pollen production and dispersal is appreciably reduced. In fact the staggered planting of the two male and border rows ensures adequate and prolonged availability of pollen. It is not safe to rely entirely on natural winds to aid in pollen dispersal. It is desirable to use supplementary aids of pollen dispersal like gentle tapping of male plant or blowing air through empty duster over the male heads. It is also advisable to spray 1-2% Borax (Na2B4O5(OH)4·8(H2O) to improve the pollen production and dispersal. If the pollen is not available in the same plot, one may collect the pollen in the morning from neighboring plots (if available) and instantly dust or spray with water on the earheads of the female parent. If dew hampers spread of pollen, blow empty power duster on the male rows to disperse pollen towards female heads or tap the male heads. If male plants are sufficiently taller than females, tapping can be easily carried out using a long bamboo pole or irrigation pipe across the block.

Stigma receptivityGenerally the stigmas are receptive for 4-5

days (MS 2219A, MS 296A and AKMS 14A) after opening. In some lines it is extended beyond that period as in MS 2077A. However, during the hot summer months, the receptivity is lost faster owing to desiccation of stigmas.

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RougingRegular rouging should follow the

commencement of flowering. Apart from off-types, pollen shedders are also a problem in A-lines. Shedders are plants that look similar to the A–line but exhibit fertile anthers and shed pollen. Such plants can only be identified at anthesis and should be uprooted immediately. Shedders can also arise from partial breakdown of sterility in the A-lines due to high temperatures (>37°C). Delay in identifying shedders will result in out-crossing of male-steriles leading to subsequent genetic contamination of the hybrid. Therefore, it is recommended that rouging be carried out in the early morning hours before pollen shedding takes place. The R- line should also be rouged periodically.

Harvest of hybrid seed

All possible precautions against seed contamination should be taken during harvesting of hybrid seed production plots and threshing of panicles from the A- line rows. Usually, the R-line is harvested first. Later the A-line rows are carefully

inspected for off-types and other chance admixtures and then harvested. Hybrid seed yield (on the A- line) depends upon the yield potential of the A- line, percent seed set, and environmental conditions. The R-line seed in hybrid seed plot is generally not permitted to be reused as seed and should be sold as grain. However, if there are no pollen shedders, and no chance of seed contamination.

d) The economics of sorghum hybrid seed production

The hybrid seed production of sorghum is a specialized operation that needs higher level of competence to meet quality requirements unlike commercial grain crop. The economics of sorghum hybrid seed production was worked out. The cost and the net returns of sorghum hybrid seed production provide a scientific basis for fixing compensation to the seed growers. The estimated variable cost and fixed cost of sorghum hybrid seed production respectively amounts to 81% and 19% of the total cost of seed production. About 57% of variable costs are due to the human labor and material inputs. The net benefit: cost ratio works out

Pollen dispersal in Breeder seed plot


17

authentic source/agency depending on the stage of seed multiplication.Isolation of seed plot

Sorghum is generally a self pollinated crop but cross pollination up to 5-6% may also occur. It varies from 2-10% with genotypes and agro-ecology and selection of field with required isolation depending on class of seed (foundation or certified seed) and the kind of objectionable crops. The pollen of forage sorghum types can pass and spread to a little more distance and hence require more isolation distance (Table 3).

RougingRouging of the seed field is very important for

quality sorghum seed production. The rouging is done at three crop growth stages i) Before flowering ii) During flowering and iii) Before harvest. The specific certification standards are given in Table 4.

Before flowering• Start the rouging operation before off types,

volunteers or shedders in the female rows start shedding pollen.

• All rouges and volunteer plants must be cut at

to 1.8 under normal seed production scenario.

Principles of sorghum seed production and maintenance

a) Genetic purity maintenance The genetically pure seed of a variety is

expected to have all the unique economic and diagnostic characters. If the genetic purity of a variety deteriorates, the unique traits of the variety are lost and its production potential, adaptation and resistance to diseases and pests also decline. In cross pollinated species like sorghum inbred lines and varieties, the deterioration will be much faster due to out crossing. The major factors causing deterioration of varieties or inbreeds leading to the production of seeds with low genetic purity are a) Residual genetic variation, b) Developmental variations, c) Cross pollination due to undesirable pollen d) Mechanical mixtures, e) Damage due to pests and diseases. The other factors that may have influence on genetic purity are f) Plant breeder’s techniques during selection programs and g) Mutations. The following important measures should be followed during sorghum seed production in order to maintain genetic purity.

1) Adequate attention must be given to land

requirements, isolation, rouging, harvesting, drying, sorting and threshing of ears etc., so as to maintain maximum possible genetic purity.

2) Use the proper class of seed source for further multiplication.

3) The best cultural practices should be followed.4) Inspection should be done at all critical growth

stages.5) Mechanical mixtures should be avoided at

sowing, harvesting, threshing, processing and storage.

Essential prerequisites of genetic purity maintenanceSeed source

The seed for sowing should be collected from

Table 3: Minimum isolation standards for the production of different classes of sorghum seed

Note: Different flowering dates for modifying isolation distances are not permitted.

ContaminantsMinimum distance (m)

Foundation seed

Certified seed

Fields of other varieties 400 200

Fields of same variety but not confirming to purity

400 200

Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense)

400 400

Forage sorghum with high tillering and grassy panicle

400 400

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ground level or pulled out to prevent re-growth and subsequent contamination of seed crop.

• Outcrosses can be identified because of their greater height and should be removed as soon as these are noticeable.

During flowering• Rouging should be done every day to remove

pollen shedders in the seed rows. The sterile types have only the stigma, or a few abortive anthers exerted. These should not be mistaken for normal fertile plants. Normal fertile plants will have rich yellow anthers, which are full of pollen out to the tips of both lobes. On shedding, these lobes rupture on distal and discharge pollen. All plants out of place, ie., plants in between the rows, male plants in female rows and vice-versa should be removed. Special attention should be given at the ends where the border rows and seed rows meet, as male seed may fall in female rows (or female in male rows).

• In addition, to remove off types and volunteers within the fields eliminate other sorghum and other related plants such as Johnson grass, Sudan grass and forage plants. These sources of undesirable pollen must be eliminated before they shed pollen.

Before harvest: The field should also be rouged thoroughly

before harvest and after the seed maturity to the stage when the true plant and seed characters are exhibited.

Harvesting and threshingThe seed crop must be fully mature at harvest.

Harvesting should be done at physiological maturity stage when the black layer formation appears at the point of attachment of seed with the caryopsis. In general the seeds harvested 35 – 45 days after flowering have superior seed quality. The harvested heads should be sorted out to remove diseased or otherwise undesirable heads, and dried

on the threshing floor for a week or so in thin layer before threshing. Doubtful ear heads are rejected. The border rows of seed plots should be avoided to prevent the chance natural contamination. The male rows should be harvested first and kept separately to avoid mechanical mixtures. After this, the female rows should be harvested. Threshing can be done by clean machine threshers at proper seed moisture content (13-14 %). Seed should be dried to 10-12%% moisture content before storage. Care should be taken to avoid mechanical mixtures while threshing.

b) Seed crop management

Production environmentThe fluctuation in temperature especially at

the critical stage of floral development has a vital impact. Short periods of cool night experiencing ≤13° C induce male sterility. This is mainly because of the fact that ascorbic acid localized in plant

Seed fields can however be certified if diseased ear-heads are removed and burnt and the fields show

on re-inspection, infection not more than maximum permissible level. Only one such re-inspection is

permitted.

Note: Seed fields should be thoroughly rouged to remove plants infected by sugary disease / Ergot

(Claviceps spp), so that the prescribed standards are met at seed stage. However the seed fields shall not be rejected on account of presence of sugary / ergot

infected earheads.

Table 4: Specific certification standards for different classes of sorghum seed production

Factor Maximum Permitted (%)Foundation

seedCertified

seedOff-types (earheads) at any one inspection at and after flowering.

0.05 0.10

*Earheads infected by kernel smut and grain smut and head smut at final inspection.

0.05 0.10


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parts produce mono-de-hydro ascorbic acid at low temperatures leading to free radical change and formation of charge transfer complex and alteration of photo morpho-genetic process inducing male sterility. Secondly, low temperatures during floral induction restrict the nutrient supply to the developing pollen grain and render them sterile. The problem of pollen shedders with yellow anthers arise at temperatures ≥37- 40°C. The produced fertile yellow anthers of male sterile lines become similar to those of normal maintainer line. It is mainly due to the fact that the high temperature disturbs the peroxidase and cytochrome oxidase enzyme systems during pollen development and breaks male sterility. It has been reported that if the calcium carbonate level in the soil exceeds 300 gram per cubic feet of soil, then the ear head will not produce any seed due to induction of sterility because of lime induced iron stress and ultimate disturbance in the enzyme activity of catalase, peroxidase and cytochrome oxidase during anthesis (Tonapi and Karivaratharaju, 2002). This phenomenon is mainly due to induction of female sterility. Hence in view of these factors there exist lots of limitations that prevent or alter reproductive strategy of sorghum parental lines and hybrids during seed production. Therefore care must be taken to exploit optimum climatic package during crop growth period.

The areas with temperatures during flowering ranging from 25 -32°C are best suited for successful sorghum seed production. Night temperature should not fall below 13°C for longer period since it affects the seed development. Flowering and seed development stages should not coincide with the rains as the pollen loss and grain molds deteriorate seed quality. The fields where sorghum was not grown in the previous season should be selected. In addition there should be no Johnson grass in the seed field or with in isolation distance. The field should be well leveled and drained. The saline, alkaline or very lighter soils are not suitable. Uniform and level piece of land with good drainage should be selected. The pH should be around 5.5 to 8.5. Good irrigation facilities are essential for sorghum seed crop. The land should be free from the residues of previous crop stubbles, weeds etc. The land should be well prepared to a fine tilth by deep ploughing, three to four harrowings followed by leveling for uniform germination and plant stand.

SeasonSorghum seed production is mostly undertaken

during kharif in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. In the other sorghum growing areas it is taken in rabi or summer season. Seed produced in seasons other than kharif always

Harvesting of A and R lines in a hybrid seed production plot [Always harvest B/R line first and thenharvest the A/hybrid line) to avoid genetic contamination due to physical admixing]

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produce seeds with good germination and vigor. During kharif, infections due to grain molds deteriorate the seed quality and marketable value of the seed. The sowings are usually carried out before the end of June and September in kharif and rabi seasons respectively. Early sowing wards off shoot fly attack and seed crop passes through its life cycle at the most optimum environmental regime promoting better nicking and seed development.

Seed treatmentShoot fly can be effectively controlled by

treating the seed with 50% soluble powder of carbofuran @ 100g per kg of sorghum seed.

SowingMaintenance of male sterile line (A- line)

involves sowing of two parents i.e., A- line (male sterile) and B- line (male fertile). Similarly certified seed production of hybrids includes male sterile A- line and fertility restorer R -line. The borders rows (4 - 6) should be sown with male line all round the seed production plot. To facilitate frequent rouging operation, a spacing of 60 cm (row to row) and 15 - 20 cm (plant to plant) is advisable. Precautions should be taken to avoid admixing parental lines at the time of sowing. For A- line seed production the seed rate is 7.5 Kg/ha of A- line and 5 Kg/ha of B- line. The usual planting row ratio of A- & B- lines is 4: 2 for breeder seed production. For certified hybrid seed production, the female and male lines in 4: 2 row ratios can be sown. However, the proportion can be widened to 6: 2. The general seed rate varies from 7-8 kg/hectare depending on spacing and planting ratios.

Fertilizer applicationRecommended dose of fertilizers (80kg N: 40kg

P2O5; 40kg K2O / ha) should be applied to realize optimum yield and good quality seed. Higher fertilizer dose (100kg N: 50kg P2O5: 50kg K2O / ha) enables better expression of plant characters, since seed production is highly technical and high input use activity.

IrrigationCrops for all seed categories of seeds should

be grown under assured source of irrigation. The flower primordial initiation, boot leaf, flowering and grain development are the most critical crop growth stages in sorghum. Moisture stress at any of these stages will result in significant reduction in seed size, yield and quality.

Plant protectionThe successful disease and insect pest

management is one of the most important factor in raising a healthy seed crop. Seed plots of all seed categories should be raised from seeds treated with proper fungicide / insecticide. Rouging of diseased plants should be done promptly. The insecticide and fungicide spray at recommended dose should be made throughout the crop growing season.

Pest control

Shoot flyShoot fly can be controlled by seed treatment

with Carbofuran 50% soluble powder @ 100g/kg seed. It can also be controlled by applying Furadan 3G or Phorate 10G in the seed furrows @ 20kg/ha at the time of sowing.

Stem borerStem borer can be effectively controlled by

application of Endosulfan 4G/4D, or Carbaryl 3G or Malathion 10D or Furadan 3G @8-12kg/ha at 20 and 35 days after seedling emergence.

MidgeHigh levels of midge infestation can be

controlled by spraying endosulfan 35 EC -1 litre, or lindane 20 EC -1.2 litres, or malathion 50 EC -1 litre per hectare in 500-600 litres of water followed by second application 4-6 days later.

Head bugThe population density (50nymphs / panicle)

at pre bloom and 50% flowering stage requires


21

dusting of Malathion 10D @ 20kg/ha.

Disease controlGrain molds in kharif and charcoal rot in

rabi are the key diseases. The seed should be treated with Thiram or Captan @ 3g per kg of seed. Grain mold incidence can be minimized with Aureofungin solution @30g /10 lt of water + Captan (30g/10 lt of water) or Dithane M 45 + Captan @3%concentration). Charcoal rot can be reduced by proper soil management practices by conserving soil moisture, besides growing tolerant cultivars. Leaf spot such as rust can become serious in favorable climate during the kharif and rabi seasons, and can be controlled by spraying Dithane M 45@ 3% concentration. Sugary disease in hybrid sorghum seed production plots where female parent become infested, can be managed to certain extent by spraying Dithane M 45 or Dithane Z-78 @2g / lt of water or Bavistin @ 5g / 10 lt of water at flowering stage. For chemical control of honey dew stage of ergot disease, spray Benlate (0.1%) at the stage of 50% flowering. Provision of ample pollen during flowering always reduces the chance of ergot incidence. For Downy mildew control, spraying of Dithane M 45 (0.4%) four times at an interval of one week starting from seventh day after planting has proved to be the best.

Inter-cultureHand weeding after 20 days of sowing is

preferable. Inter-cultivation with blade harrow or cultivator will help to control weeds and conserve moisture. Pre-emergence spraying of Atrazine (atrataf) @ 0.5 kg active ingredient per hectare or propazine 50 % wettable powder @ 1 kg in 1000 lt of water helps to control the weeds.

c) Seed processing Seed processing is an integral part of sorghum

seed production and technology, which encompasses the steps such as drying, cleaning, grading, treating, and bagging. Sorghum seed properly threshed can often be cleaned to the desired purity on the air

screen cleaner alone. However, the gravity separator is commonly used, to remove light materials and improve germination.

Physical purityThe threshed seeds should be physically pure

and should not contain weed seeds, disease and pest infested seed, other crop seed, other cultivar seed, undesirable seed, and damaged seeds. Sorghum seed of different classes should possess the following minimum seed purity standards.Seed drying

Seeds contain varying amounts of moisture at harvest, and if they are to be stored for subsequent planting it is essential that their moisture content is reduced to a safe level. High moisture in seeds deteriorates seed viability and causes mechanical damage during processing. In addition to this, high moisture in seeds provides favorable atmosphere

Table 5: Specific seed standards for foundation and certified seed of sorghum

Factor Standards for each classFoundation

seedCertified

seedPure seed (minimum) 98.0% 98.0%Inert matter (maximum)

2.0% 2.0%

Other crop seeds (maximum)

5 /Kg 10/ Kg

Weed seeds (maximum)

5/ Kg 10 /Kg

Other distinguishable varieties (maximum)

10/ Kg 20/ Kg

Ergot, sclerotia, seed entirely or partially modified as Scelerotia, broken Sclerotia, or ergotted seed (Sphecelia sorghi-Mc Rae, & Claviceps spp) (maximum)

0.020%

(by number)

0.040%

(by number)

Germination (minimum)

75% 75%

Moisture (maximum) 12.0% 12.0%For vapour proof containers (maximum)

8.0% 8.0%

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for pest and disease infestation in storage. Sorghum seeds should be dried to 10-11% moisture content to avoid the breeding and multiplication of insect population in storage. The moisture content fluctuates during storage in cloth or hessian bags, but if the seed store is reasonably moisture vapor proof, the fluctuation in seed moisture content would be small. In sorghum, proper sun drying of earheads is essential to bring down the seed moisture to desirable level to avoid seed deterioration. In sun drying, seeds are normally dried by spreading them on the floor under diffused sunlight or under shade. Frequent stirring of the seeds is required to facilitate rapid and uniform drying. To dry bulk quantities of seeds can be dried in forced air driers. Maximum recommended air temperature for seed drying is 40° C, however in order to reduce the risk of heat damage to the seeds, drying temperatures should be lower than the maximum recommended. If seed moisture is more than 18%, maximum recommended drying temperature is 32° C and if lower than 18%, 40° C is the temperature for drying.

Seed cleaning and gradingIn order to maintain the physical purity to the

required standards seed cleaning is the essential step in processing unit to separate the inert matter, weed

seed, other crop seed, other variety seed, disease and pest infested seed and any other undesirable contaminants. Sorghum seed cleaning and upgrading is mainly based on physical differences in seed volume, test weight and density. The sieve aperture sizes of top and bottom screens of air screen cleaner differ with genotypes. Generally the top screen has holes measuring 12/64” or 4.75mm with round holes and the bottom screen at 9/64”or 3.5mm with round holes. The specific gravity separator helps in upgrading the quality of seeds by rejecting the seed that is inferior in specific gravity. Seed treatment

Seed treatment refers to the application of fungicides, insecticides, or a combination of both to disinfect the seed from seed borne pathogens and to protect from soil borne organisms. Some chemicals offer a systemic protection against diseases. The use of insecticides reduces the damage to seed by insects. Sorghum seed after seed treatment can be protected from systemic pathogens like loose and head smut and non-systemic pathogens like Helminthosporium blight, Fusarium and bacterial blights. Seed treatment also provides protection against storage pests (rice weevil) and shoot fly. The fungicides like Thiram or captan @ 3g/kg and

View of seed pre-cleaner cum grader and specific gravity and indented cylinder separators


23

insecticides like Malathion dust (5%) (Premium grade) @ 0.6g per kg seed are recommended for sorghum seed treatment.

Bulk stacking and storage of processed seeds

Packing Processed seed can be packed in cloth bags or

poly lined bags @ 3-4kg / bag, sewed with proper label of particular seed class and should be sealed with lead seal.

d) Seed storage managementStorage under controlled environment

The genetic damage will not show up in the crop grown from that seed in the first generation, but will begin to segregate in the subsequent generations. Therefore, it is very important to store breeder seed and germplasm material carefully so that the loss of viability and genetic damage is minimized. As soon as seed germination falls by 20-30% from the initial seed germination of 90-95%, the seed should be regenerated. Such seeds should be stored under controlled conditions at a particular temperature and relative humidity regime (Table 6).

Breeder and Foundation seed cold storage

Short term storage under ambient conditionSeeds of most of the sorghum species can be

stored under ambient conditions for at least 12-15 months, if seed moisture does not exceed 9-10%. Relative humidity and storage temperature are two important factors that influence seed viability during storage. The relative humidity of 70% and 20° C temperature can be accepted as maximum permissible thresholds of safe storage. But in tropical countries like India, places registering mean temperature of 20° C throughout the year are few. The seed godowns must be rain proof, relatively moisture vapor proof and insect proof. There should be no cracks in wall or on floors. The bags should not be kept directly on the floor, but on wooden pallets and should be at least 50cm away from the walls. An exhaust fan should operate for ventilation when outside temperature is lower than the temperature inside the seed store, the relative humidity of the outside air should also be considered while planning to ventilate the seed stores. The careful ventilation can reduce both storage temperature and seed moisture. Seeds are invariably attacked by different insect pests during storage. To avoid the storage losses and to keep seeds free from insect pests during storage, one must adopt the following preventive and remedial measures.

Tips for better seed storage1. The seed moisture content should be preferably

below 9%. The moisture content fluctuates during storage in cloth and hessian bags, but if seed store is reasonably moisture vapor proof, the fluctuation in seed moisture content would be low.

Table 6: Suggested temperature and relative humidity regimes for better seed storage

S.No. Duration of storage (years)

Tempera-ture (° C)

Relative humidity (%)

1 5-7 15 - 20 45 - 502 20-25 2 - 4 40 - 453 50 or more -10 40 - 45

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2. New bags should be used to avoid both insect infestation and mechanical mixture.

3. The storage structure should be thoroughly cleaned and white washed.

4. The storage structure should be disinfected with residual sprays of insecticides such as Malathion 50EC (one part in 100 parts of water) @ 5litres per 100 sq. m.

5. Proper stacking should be followed for arranging seed bags in storage structures.

6. It should be ascertained that the seed is properly treated with disinfectants before keeping the seeds in storage.

7. Different types of seeds such as cereals, pulses, and vegetables should be stored separately to avoid the spread of insect infestation.

Maintenance of seed storage1. The processing units and storage structures

should be clean.2. All sweeps should be kept far away from the

premises of seed godowns so that insects will not breed and reinfest seeds.

3. The inspection of seed lots in storage structures should be carried out every fortnight. Seeds must be thoroughly fumigated at regular intervals.

4. Fumigation can be done with a) Aluminium phosphide, 2 – 3 tablets (3g each) per tonne of material with an exposure period of 5 –7 days or 1 tablet / m3 space. b) Ethylene dibromide (EDB) @ 32g / m3 space with an exposure period of 5 –7 days. c) Ethylene dichloride carbon tetrachloride (3:1) (EDCT) mixture @ 320 – 480 g / m3 space with an exposure period of 24-48 hrs.

5. Of all these fumigants, Aluminium posphide is safest. Its’ repeated application does not impair seed quality. Maximum of 3 fumigations may be given at an interval of 40-50 days.

6. During fumigation and surface sprays, handle the chemicals carefully as they are highly toxic.

7. Seed structures should be aerated and thoroughly cleaned with brush or hard broomsticks to

remove all dead and moribund insects.8. To prevent reinfestation, surface treatment with

Malathion 50EC or Finitrothion 50EC @ 4-5 litres / m2 area or Malathion dust 5% @ 3-4 kg / 100 m2 should be given.

9. Surface treatment of seed godowns and processing units should be carried out at an interval of 2-4 weeks depending upon the severity of pest. Check on reinfestation prevents insect developing resistance to insecticides

Buffer stockIt is necessary to keep a buffer stock of seed to

meet contingencies such as natural calamities and to safeguard against shortfalls in seed production. The quantity of seed to be kept in buffer should not be less than 10% of the projected requirement in the subsequent year in the case of certified seed, 20% in the case of foundation seed, and 50-100% (depending upon the hybrids/varieties) in the case of breeder seed. The quantity of carry-over stocks must be kept at a minimum.

e) Seed quality control

Seed quality in India is legally controlled by the Seed Act, 1966. According to this Act all the seeds of notified varieties/ kinds when sold to farmers must meet the minimum standards of germination and physical purity. The seed should be packed in a suitable container and a label has to be affixed on the container. Information about germination, physical purity, variety, date of test, name of the seed producer has to be given on the label. The germination as given on the label is valid for 8 months and after which it has to be revalidated for a subsequent period of four months after retest. Seed certification is the process designed to secure, maintain and make available high quality seed and propagating material of superior crop plant varieties, so grown and distributed as to ensure desirable standards of genetic identity, physical purity and other quality attributes. Certification is performed in five phases. 1. Verification of land requirements


25

2. Verification of seed source3. Inspection of the seed crop in the field4. Inspection and testing of each lot and seed

sample during the processing and bagging 5. Tagging, labeling and sealing to identify the

seed

If the seed test report is satisfactory indicates that the seed meets the minimum standard of germination, purity and seed health, then a given seed lot is approved and tags and certificates are issued by certification agency to the seed producer. Quality control and regulation of supply of quality seed by seed industry is done by the State Department of Agriculture. It is being regulated by a network of notified seed inspectors with specific jurisdictions as prescribed by the State Govt., in accordance with Seed Act, Seed Rules and Seed Control Order. There were considerable gaps in the scope and implementation of Seed Act, 1966 and as such it was felt to improve the act suitably in the form of Draft Seeds Bill, 2002.

Grow-out testTo monitor the genetic purity of the breeder

seed plots, a sample of basic seed lot is drawn. The samples thus collected from different varieties, parental lines and hybrids are grown at one place along with standard sample under constant supervision of sponsored breeder. The plants are compared for designated characters to determine the genetic purity percent, and the seed lot is labeled as per prescribed norms. The main objective is to determine the genetic purity of a given seed lot of a released cultivar and the extent to which the submitted sample conforms to the prescribed standards. The samples for growth-out test are to be drawn simultaneously with the samples for other

quality tests and the standard procedure shall be followed. The size of the submitted sample should be 500 gm.

While raising the desired population, standard and recommended agronomic / cultural practices (e.g., field preparation, size of the plot, row length, distance between rows, distance between plants, irrigation, fertilization, etc.) in respect of individual crops are to be followed both for the unknown sample and its control. The possibility to prove the genuineness of a cultivar by grow-out test is based on hereditary characteristics of the plants. Usually the cultivar differences are more distinct if growth conditions are favorable. Crop should be so grown that the genetical differences express themselves as clearly as possible. In self-fertilizing species the individual of a cultivar may be theoretically identical whereas the individual of a cultivar in cross-fertilizing species may not be genetically similar, but comprise a number of types. Therefore, it is easier to determine the cultivar purity in self-fertilizing species than in cross-fertilizing species where the examination for greater part is based on the mutual comparison between the samples to be tested and the standard sample. Hence, it is essential to sow the various samples of the same cultivar in succession and standard samples are sown at suitable intervals (for example one standard sample for every ten samples to be tested). The size of plots, row length, etc. will differ from crop to crop. However, the specifications for sorghum crop is indicated in Table 7. The Certification Agency may change the specification if considered necessary.

The seed rate may be adjusted depending on the germination percentage of individual samples and the sowing may be done by dibbling. Subsequent

Table 7: Planting specifications for grow out testing

S. No.

Crop Row length (meters)

Plant to plant distance (cm)

Space between rows (cm)

Space between plots (cm)

No. of replications

1 Sorghum 6 10 45 60 2

26


thinning is not recommended. The test crop may be raised along with the control either in the areas recommended for the variety or in off-season nurseries. The authentic control sample from the originating plant breeder / breeding institute is to be maintained by the testing station / agency following standard procedures. A minimum of two hundred plants from control sample will be raised along with the test crop. The following observations are to be made:a) All plants are to be studied keeping in view

the distinguishing characters described for the cultivar both in the test crop as well as the control. Necessary corrections may be incorporated if the control is found to be heterogeneous.

b) Observations are made during full growing period, or for a period specified by originating breeding institute and deviations from the standard sample of the same variety are recorded. At suitable development stage the plots are examined carefully, and plants which are obviously of other cultivar are counted and recorded.The specification for the field plot, row length,

etc. may be determined from the information given. The number of plants required for taking observations is dependent on maximum permissible off types as determined below in Table 8.

The calculation, interpretation and reporting of the results is always in terms of percentage of other cultivars, other species or aberrants found may be calculated up to first place of decimal. The analysts employed for conducting ‘grow-out test’ should possess the basic qualification as identified under Seeds Rules, 1968. While interpreting the result, use of tolerance may be applied (Table 9).

Table 8: Permissible deviants and sample size for recording observations on maximum permissible genetic purity maintenance

Maximum permissible off

types (%)

Minimum genetic

purity (%)

Number of plants required per sample for

observation

0.10 99.9 40000.20 99.8 20000.30 99.7 13500.50 99.5 800

1.00 and above 99.0 and above

400

Table 9: Reject number for prescribed standards and sample size

* indicates that the sample size is too small for a valid test

Standard Reject numbers for sample sizes of

800 40099.5 (1 in 200) 8 *99.0 (1 in 200) 16 895.0 (5 in 100) 48 2490.0 (10 in 100) 88 4485.0 (15 i0 100) 128 64

Seed certification, testing and quality control

Seed is a crucial and basic input to increase crop yield per unit area and to improve agricultural economy of a country. In fact, good quality seeds are “seeds of green revolution”. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the mechanism of maintenance of seed quality, means to preserve genetic and physical purity and the procedure by which planting value of a seed could be assessed. Hence, this topic is an effort in the direction to understand mode of seed certification and methods of seed quality control and seed testing that ensure good seed to perform best in favourable environment and better in less favourable areas.

Seed certification and quality control“Seed certification is a legally sanctioned

system for quality control of seed multiplication and production” consisting of measures like:1. An administrative check on origin of seed

source / propagation material;


27

2. Field inspection;3. Supervision of harvesting, processing, transport

and storage;4. Sample inspection;5. Bulk inspection;6. Control plot testing.

The main objectives and concepts of seed certification are:1. The systematic increase of superior varieties;2. The identification of new varieties and their

rapid increase under appropriate and generally accepted names;

3. Provision of a continuing supply of comparable material by careful maintenance and by adopting “GENERATION SYSTEM” of multiplication involving three stages:a. Breeder seedb. Foundation seed (sometimes, stage I and II)c. Certified seed

Concepts1. Pedigree of al certified seeds should be based

on lineage;2. Integrity of certified seed growers must be

recognized;3. Field inspection must be made by qualified

inspectors;4. Verification trials that establish and maintain

pedigree of stocks must be conducted;5. There should be standards established for purity

and germination;6. The principle of sealing seeds to protect both

grower and purchaser must be approved;7. Species of farm weeds which would be included

within the meaning of noxious weeds must be defined.

Steps involved in seed certification1. Examination of application;2. Inspection of seed fields;3. Rejection of fields;4. Seed sampling;5. Tagging and sealing;

6. Control plot testing;7. Revocation of certificate.

Minimum seed certification standards are necessary for ensuring the quality of seed. For various activities, corresponding factor for which standard is required is as follows. The certification standards in force in India can be categorized into:1. General seed certification standards;2. Specific crop standards.

The important factors responsible for apparent and real deterioration of genetic purity are:1. Developmental variations;2. Mechanical mixtures;3. Mutations;4. Natural out crossing;5. Minor genetic variations;6. Selective influence of diseases and pests;7. The technique of plant breeder.

In order to maintain seed quality, following “Agronomic Principles” should be strictly followed:1. Selection of ideal location; 2. Selection of plot for seed production;3. Proper isolation of seed crop;4. Land preparation;5. Selection of variety;6. Seed source;7. Seed treatment;8. Time of planting;9. Seed rate;10. Method of sowing;11. Depth of sowing;12. Rouging;13. Supplementary pollination;14. Weed control;15. Disease and insect control;

Class Minimum genetic purityBreeder seed 100.00 %Foundation seed 99.50 %Certified seed 99.00 %

Standards for genetic purity

28


16. Nutrition;17. Irrigation;18. Time and method of harvest;19. Seed drying;20. Seed processing;21. Storage of seeds.

To maintain the standards of purity and quality of seeds that are to be certified the following conditions are enforced by seed certification agencies.1. Only the fields that have not been planted

during the preceding season to other varieties / hybrids of the particular crop should be chosen;

2. Only one variety / hybrid of a particular crop can be grown for seed production on a farm;

3. The field chosen for seed production should be sufficiently isolated from other varieties of the same crop;

4. The field should be free from noxious weeds;5. Off-types should be removed before they set

seed;6. Strict field inspection at crop growing period

(2-3), harvest and processing by certifying agency is must;

7. Seed bags should be treated, sealed and tagged for authentication.

Why seed drying?• Seeds can be safely stored when they have been

dried to a moisture content of 13%.

• Drying helps seeds maintain their ability to germinate and their vigor for a longer period.

• Drying controls mold growth and the activity of other organisms that reduce the quality of stored grain.

• Drying reduces seed discoloration, which lowers the market value of the seed

• Seed drying methods-forced air drying• Seeds can be dried in a batch-type dryer by

forced air heated to 40- 45 °C. • Do not dry the seeds abruptly to 13% moisture

content if the beginning seed moisture is higher than 20%.

• The seed layer in a batch-type dryer should not be more than 45 cm deep.

Cleaning and grading• Remove impurities such as trash, leaves, broken

seeds, sand or grit, etc. • Remove weed seeds or those of other plant

species. • Remove immature, shriveled, unfilled, and

empty spikelets. • Seed can be cleaned manually by winnowing.

Winnowing removes only light, chaffy material.• An air screen machine not only cleans the seed

but separates seed of uniform size from oversize and undersize seeds. The process of separating seeds of uniform size is known as grading.

• Air screen machines are normally too expensive for on-farm ownership. Cleaning and grading are usually done by public or private seed agencies that contract with seed growers for hybrid seed production.

Minimum seed certification standards

Minimum number of field counts

S.No. Activity Standard

1 Field inspectionVarietal purity, isolation, seed borne diseases, weeds

2 Pre and post control tests

Varietal purity, seed-borne diseases

3 Seed quality test in the laboratory

Variety purity (in so far as is possible) analytical purity, seed health, germination and moisture content

Area of field in hectares

Minimum number of counts to be made

Up to 2 52 – 4 64 – 6 76 – 8 88 – 10 9Above 10 10


29

Seed germination testing• Before seeds can be packed and sold as hybrid

seed, they must be tested for germination rate and purity.

• Public seed testing agencies normally do the testing and certification. The germination rate must be at least 85% in order for seed to be certified.

• Before taking your seed for testing, you can do your own germination test at home by following the instructions.

Packing and labeling the seed• Pack your seed in clean, preferably new, jute

bags. • If you store your seeds in used bags, you should

disinfect the bags to protect the seed from insects that could attack the seed during storage.

• Follow these steps to disinfect used bags. 1. Turn the bags inside out and shake them

thoroughly so no seeds of any kind stick to the inside of the bag.

2. Soak the bags for 10 minutes in a 0.15% solution of malathion. (Make the solution by mixing 1 part malathion 50 EC in 300 parts water.)

3. Dry the bags under shade before filling them with seed.

• Do not pack your seed if the moisture content is more than 13%. The seed could spoil during storage.

• Make two labels for each bag - one to place inside the bag and one to attach to the outside.

• Each label should contain the following information:

1. Your name and address. 2. Name of the hybrid. 3. Location of the seed production field. 4. Season.

Seed testing principles and proceduresThe international rules and regulations for seed

testing (1976, 1999), as finalized at the seventeenth International Congress of Seed Testing, Warsaw

(1974), became effective on 1st January, 1977 in the Southern Hemisphere. For the purpose of better understanding, the principles and procedures for testing samples of different crop groups have been discussed under the following sub-heads:1. Sampling;2. Moisture testing (oven method, by moisture

meters);3. Purity analysis;4. Evaluation of seedlings for germination;5. Vigour and viability tests;6. Seed health testing;7. Verification of genetic purity (grow-out test).

SamplingA sample is obtained from a seed lot by taking

small portions at random from different stocks or positions at the time of processing or packaging or from sealed bags in the lot and combining them. The classification of samples drawn at various stages and for laboratory tests is given below:1. Primary sample: A primary sample is a small

portion taken from a lot, at a particular stage, with the purpose of forming a composite sample.

2. Composite sample: A composite sample is formed by combining and mixing all the primary samples taken from a lot and a part of this sample is sent to laboratory for test.

3. Submitted sample: A composite sample is usually large in quantity than what is required for testing and so needs to be reduced in quantity as per requirement. A composite sample, when so reduced in quantity and sent to the testing station, is called a submitted sample.

4. Working sample: The working sample is part taken from the submitted sample in the laboratory, to be subjected to quality tests as described in the rules.

Analysis of purity componentsIn accomplishing the objectives of the ISTA

Rules, the sample is separated into three components:

30


Percentage of germinationThe percentage of germination reported in a

Seed Analysis Report indicate the proportion by number of seeds which have produced seedlings classified as normal under the conditions and within the specified period.

Normal seedlingsIt is necessary to distinguish the normal

seedlings which are counted for percentage of germination from abnormal seedlings. According to the ISTA Rules, 1976, normal seedlings are those which come under one of the following categories:1. Seedlings which show the capacity for continued

development into normal plants when grown in good quality soil and under favourable conditions of water supply, temperature and light;

2. Seedlings which are found to possess all the essential structures when tested on artificial substrate;

3. Seedlings which show a vigorous and balanced development of its structures except having some slight defects, such as having a damaged primary root or superficially damaged other essential structure, or having only one cotyledon when they are dicotyledonous;

4. Seedlings with all the essential structures intact but in a sate of decay caused by fungi or bacteria. It should, however, be clear that the parent seed is not the source of infection.

Abnormal seedlingsAbnormal seedlings are those which do not

(1) pure seed; (2) inert matter; and (iii) other seeds.

Pure seedPure seed refers to that species which is stated

by the sender to be the dominant in the seed lot. Such seed as immature, undersized, shriveled, diseased, or germinated seeds, unless transformed into fungal sclerotia, smut balls or nematode galls, be regarded as pure seed, provided they can be identified as of that species.

Inter matterInert matter includes such seed like structures

as pieces of broken or damaged seed, empty glumes or any other extraneous matter such as soil, sand, stone, chaff, stems, leaves, pieces of bark, flower, nematode galls, fungal bodies, insect larvae, etc.

Other seedsThis refers to any kind of seed or seed like

structures of any plant species other than that of pure seed. The distinguishable characteristics set out for the pure seed shall also be applicable to other seeds except certain weed seeds which are classified separately.

Evaluation of seedlings for germinationGermination

Germination in a laboratory test refers to the emergence from the seed embryo of those essential structures which, for the kind of seed being tested, indicate its ability to develop into a normal plant under favourable conditions.

Seed germination testing as per International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) guidelines


31

show the capacity for continued development into normal plants when grown in good quality soil and under favourable conditions of water supply, temperature and light. Seedlings found to be with the following defects when tested on artificial media shall be classified as abnormal (Damaged seedlings; Decayed seedlings; Deformed seedlings; Hard seeds; Fresh un-germinated seeds; Dead seeds).

Kinds of vigour testsDirect tests

These tests simulate pertinent un-favourable field conditions on a laboratory scale. The principle advantage of such tests is that it simultaneously evaluates all the factors affecting seed vigour.

Indirect testsThese tests measure certain physiological

attributes of seeds. These tests have the advantage that the variables can be precisely controlled, allowing reproducibility of results.

Viability testsOnly two methods, the topographical

tetrazolium test and the embryo excision test have been accepted as official methods:

Topographical Tetrazolium of TZ testIn this biochemical test, living cells are

made visible by reduction of an indicator dye. The indicator used in the TZ test is a colourless

tetrazolium salt. Although a number tetrazolium compounds can be used, 2, 3, 4, triphenyl-tetrazoloium chloride is preferred by most workers. The colourless tetrazoloium is reduced in living cells by action of dehydrogenase enzymes to form a red water insoluble formazan product. The red colour makes it possible to distinguish the living parts of the seeds from the colourless dead parts. Treated seeds fall into three groups: 1. Completely stained, viable seeds; 2. Completed unstained, non-viable seeds; and 3. Partially stained seeds.

Varying proportions of necrotic tissues occur in different parts of partially stained seeds. Localization and spread of necrosis in the embryo and / or endosperm, not the intensity of colour, determine whether such seeds are classified as visible or non-viable.

Embryo excision methodBy this method, embryos are excised from the

seeds, in accordance with the methods of flemion (1938) and Heit (1955) and then placed on moist filter paper or blotter discs in Petri dishes. The tests are placed at ordinary room temperature and light intensity; however, the temperature should not exceed 24 degrees centigrade. The embryos should germinate within a few days to two weeks. Viable non-germinated seeds can be easily distinguished from dead seeds after two weeks.

Normal, abnormal, decayed and hard seeds in a germination test

32


Table 10: Pedigree and origin of nationally released sorghum varieties

S.No Name of Cultivar

Pedigree/ Parentage Year

Area of Adaption Developing Center

Notification/ Number/Date

1. CSV 1Sel from IS 3924

1968Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat & Andhra Pradesh

AICSIP-CU4045, 24/09/1969

2 CSV 2IS 3922 x Karad local

1974

Vidarbha and Marathwada (Maharashtra), Adjoining areas of Rajasthan, Bundelkhand(UP) North Telangana

AICSIP-CU440 & 786, 21/08/1975

3 CSV 3IS 2954 x BP 53

1974All kharif sorghum growing areas of country

AICSIP-CU786, 02/02/1976

4 CSV 4IS 3675 x IS 3541

1974

All kharif sorghum growing areas and humid areas due to its ability to withstand grain mould and grain weathering

AICSIP-CU

786, 02/02/1976

13, 19/12/1978

5 CSV 5IS 3687 x Aispuri

1974

All kharif early rabi and summer seasons. Specially suited for humid areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra

AICSIP-CU 13, 19/12/1978

6 CSV 6IS 3922 x Aispuri

1976

Assured rainfall areas in Vidarbha west Maharashtra regions, Madhya Pradesh, Kota region of Rajasthan, Bundelkhand (Uttar Pradesh), South Gujarat, Adilabad (Andhra Pradesh) and Tamil Nadu suitable for Gujarat.

AICSIP-CU 01/01/1976

7 CSV 7RIS 2950 x M35-1

1976

All Rabi Sorghum growing areas in Maharashtra Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Suitable for early planting

AICSIP-CU

8 CSV 8R R24 x R16 1979Deccan rabi tract of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

Parbhani470(E), 19/02/1980

9 CSV 9CS 3541 (tall mutant)

1983All kharif sorghum growing areas of country.

AICSIP-CU449(E), 08/07/1983

10 CSV 10SB 1066 x CS 3541

1985

All kharif sorghum growing areas, specially suited for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan

Udaipur540(E), 24/07/1985

11 CSV 11(SC 108-3 x CS 3541)-11-1


ICRISAT295(E), 09/04/1985

12

CSV 12 (DSV 2) (CO26)

(SPV 462)

[(IS 2947 x SPV 232) x 1022]

1985Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

Dharwad867(E), 26/11/1986


33

S.No Name of Cultivar

Pedigree/ Parentage Year

Area of Adaption Developing Center


13 CSV 13[(IS 12622 x 555) x (IS 3612 x E 35-1-52)]


ICRISAT471(E), 05/05/1988

14 CSV 14R

[M35-1 x (CS 2947 x CS 2644) x M35-1]

1992All rabi sorghum growing area of country

DSR841(E), 04/11/1992

15 CSV 15SPV 475 x SPV 462


DSR349 (E), 20/05/1996

16CSV

216R

Sel from landrace of Dhulia, MS

2000

Recommended for cultivation during Rabi in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu

Rahuri821 (E), 13/09/2000

17 CSV 17SPV 946 x SPV 772

2009Low rainfall and drought prone sorghum growing regions of the country

Udaipur449 (E), 11/02/2009

18 CSV 18CR 4 x IS 18370

2009Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

Parbhani449 (E), 11/02/2009

19CSV 19SS

RSSV 2 x SPV 462

2005Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat

Rahuri1177(E), 25/08/2005

20 CSV 20SPV 946 x Kh 89-246

2009 All over India DSR449 (E), 11/02/2009

21 CSV 21FGSSV 148 x SR 897

2009 All over India SuratNotification Awited

22 CSV 22SPV 1359 x RSP 2

2007 All over India Rahuri1703(E), 05/10/2007

23 CSV 23SPV 861 x SU 248

2008 All over India Udaipur72(E), 10/01/2008

24CSV 24SS

NSS 1005A x (SSV 84 x 401B)

2011 All over India Hyderabad2326(E), 10/10/2011

25DSV 6

(CSV 25)SB 104B x Somapur Local

2009 All over India Dharwad2187(E), 27/08/2009

26 CSV 26SPV 655 x SPV 1538


27 CSV 27(GJ 38 x Indore 12)-2-1-2-1


28 CSV 28IRAT 204 x SPV 1134

2012 All over India Udaipur Awaited

29 CSV 29R(CSV 216R x DSV 5) x CSV 216R

2013Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh under deep black soils

Bijapur312(E), 01/02/2013

30 CSV 30FNSS 223 X NARI 111

2014 All over India Rahuri1919(E), 30/07/2014

34


Pedigree and origin of state released sorghum varieties

1 JS-20 - 1973 Haryana (Fodder) - 361(E), 30/06/1973

2 JS-29/1 - 1973 - - 361(E), 30/06/1973

3 JS-263 - 1973 Haryana (Fodder) Haryana 361(E), 30/06/1973

4 Jaya - 1974 - - 566(E), 21/09/1974

5 SL-44 - 1975 Punjab Ludhiana 440(E), 21/08/1975

6 Pusa chari 1 - 1976 Delhi IARI 01/01/1976

7 Haryana Chari - 1976 Haryana Hissar 786, 02/02/1976

8 Vidisaha-60-1 - 1976 - - 786, 02/02/1976

9 Muguthi Jola (5-4-1)

- 1976 Karnataka Dharwad 786, 02/02/1976

10 Vasant-1 - 1978 Uttar Pradesh - 13, 19/12/1978

11 SDM-9 - 1978 Karnataka Dharwad 13, 19/12/1978

12 MP Chari - 1978 Delhi, UP, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab

Indore 13, 19/12/1978

13 Moti - 1978 - - 13, 19/12/1978

14 Mau Type-1 - 1978 Utter Pradesh 13, 19/12/1978

15 Mau Type-2 - 1978 Utter Pradesh 13, 19/12/1978

16 Pusa chari 6 - 1980 Delhi IARI 470(E), 19/02/1980

17 Gujarat Jawhar 108

- 1982 Gujarat Surat, Gujarat

19(E), 14/01/1982

18 HC 136 IS 3214 x PC 7R

1982 Haryana Hissar 19(E), 14/01/1982

19 SB 1079 1982 - - 19(E), 14/01/1982

20 K7 K 3 x M 35-1 1982 Tamilnadu Kovilpatti 19(E), 14/01/1982

21 Co 24 - 1982 Tamilnadu Coim-batore

19(E), 14/01/1982


19(E), 14/01/1982

23 K 6 - 1982 Tamilnadu Kovilpatti 19(E), 14/01/1982

24 Jawhar Chari 69 - 1982 MP Indore 19(E), 14/01/1982

25 Jawhar Chari 6 - 1982 MP Indore 19(E), 14/01/1982

26 Jawhar Jowar 235 (SPV 235)

- 1983 MP Indore 01/01/1983

S.No Name of Cultivar Pedigree/ Parentage Year

Area of Adaption De-veloping Center



35




27 Jawhar Jowar 236(SPV 236)

- 1983 MP Indore 01/01/1983

28 UP Chari 1 Selection from IS4776

1983 Uttar Pradesh Pantnagar 449(E), 08/07/1983

29 M35-1 Selection form maldandi landraces

1969 Rabi tract for Deccan Maharashtra, Karnataka and AP

Mahol 596(E), 13/08/1984

30 Gujarat Sorghum 35

1985 Gujarat Gujarat 540(E), 24/07/1985

31 Rajastah Chari 1 (SU 53)

CSV 6 x NCL 3 1985 All over India Udaipur 540(E), 24/07/1985

32 SB 1066 1985 - - 540(E), 24/07/1985

33 Pusa Chari 23 Selection from an exotic F1,hybrid martin x 907010

1985 Delhi and Northern sates

IARI, New Delhi

540(E), 24/07/1985

34 UP Chari 2 Vidisha 60-1 x IS 6953

1985 All over growing track in country except very high rainfall areas

Pantnagar 540(E), 24/07/1985

35 Pusa Chari 9 Selection fro IS 4870

All over India IARI 540(E), 24/07/1985

36 Varsha T 22 x 5742-1A 1985 Utter Pradesh Kanpur 540(E), 24/07/1985

37 Co 22 2077Ax 30660Ax 2219Ax 3541 ultiple cross

1985 Tamilnadu Coim-batore

540(E), 24/07/1985

38 SPV 297 CS 3541 x IS 3924

1985 All over India Parbahani 540(E), 24/07/1985

39 Co 21 Tall mutants from 699 dwraf


540(E), 24/07/1985

40 SPV 96 148 x 512 1985 Uttar Pradesh Udaipur 540(E), 24/07/1985

41 SB 905 Selection from Kalagonda local nort h karnatak

1985 Tamilnadu Dhrawad 540(E), 24/07/1985

42 Swati (SPV 504) (RSV 9R)

SPV 86 x M35-1

1985 Maharastra Rahuri 540(E), 24/07/1985

43 SPV 245 SB 1066 x CS 3541

1985 All over India Udaipur 540(E), 24/07/1985

44 GJ 9 Pure line selection from local brooch district

1979 Recommended for entire country for rabi season

Surat 832(E), 18/11/1985

45 Rajastahn Chari 2 (SU 45)

Selection from local type of Udaipur

1985 All over India Udaipur 832(E), 18/11/1985

36



832(E), 18/11/1985

47 K 4 Co 18 x K 2 1985 Tamilnadu Kovilpatti 258(E), 14/05/1985

48 GJ 36 (2219A x BP 53) x BP 53

1984 Recommended for entire country

Surat 258(E), 14/05/1985

49 GJ 37 (2077 x M 28) x Cuandri

1986 Gujarat Surat 165(E), 06/03/1987

50 HC 260 SPV 103 x PC 9 1987 Haryana Hissar 834(E), 18/09/1987

51 HC 171 SPV 8 x IS 4776 1987 Haryana Hissar 834(E), 18/09/1987

52 SAR 1 555 x 168 1988 All over India ICRISAT 471(E), 05/05/1988

53 K 8 IS 12611C x SC 108

1989 Tamilnadu Kovilpatti (Tamil Nadu)

915(E), 06/11/1989

54 SPV 669 (AKSV 37)

SPV 97 x SPV 29

1990 All over India Akola 386(E), 15/05/1990

55 N 14 (Yellow Sorghum)

Pure line selection from Prodaturu local

1991 AP Nandyal 527(E), 16/08/1991

56 NTJ 2 Pure line selection from E-1966

1991 AP Palem 527(E), 16/08/1991

57 GFS 4 GJ 37 x Sudan type

1990 All over India Surat 527(E), 16/08/1991

58 DSV 1 SB-1066 XCS 3541

1990 All over India for Kharif season for Karnataka

Dharwad 527(E), 16/08/1991

59 JJ 741 CSV 4 x E 35-1 1991 MP Indore 527(E), 16/08/1991

60 Pant Chari 3 Visrada61-1 x IS 6953

1990 Rainfall areas of UP Pantnagar 527(E), 16/08/1991

61 GFS 1 - 1992 Gujarat Surat, Gujarat

841(E), 04/11/1992

62 SSV 84 Selection from Zera sorghum IS 23568

1990 All over India Rahuri 841(E), 04/11/1992

63 PVK 400 SDS 2650 x CS3541

1993 Maharashtra, medium to heavy soils and rain fall less than 500mm

Parbhani 615(E), 17/08/1993

64 K 9 M 36200 x tenkasi villas

1993 Tamilnadu Kovilpatti 615(E), 17/08/1993

65 HES 4 Selection from SPV 670

1994 Maharashtra (Sweet sorghum)

Parbhani 636 (E), 02/09/1994

66 GJ 39 - 1995 Gujarat Surat, Gujarat

408 (E), 04/04/1995

67 GJ 38 GJ 35 x E35-1 1995 Gujarat Surat, Gujarat

408 (E), 04/04/1995





37

68 HC 308 SPV 8 X IS 4776

1996 All over India Hissar 1 (E), 01/01/1996

69 JJ 938 SPV 221 x E 602

1995 Madhya Pradesh Indore 1 (E), 01/01/1996

70 ICSV 745

(SPV 949)

(PM 1344 x A 6250)-4-1-1-1

1996 - ICRISAT 1 (E), 01/01/1996

71 Selection 3 Selection from local Bidar

1994 Maharashtra Rahuri 1 (E), 01/01/1996

72 Pant Chari 4 IS 4776 x RIO 1995 Uttar Pradesh Pantnagar 360 (E), 01/05/1997

73 GJ 40 (2077A x M 25) X Malwan

1997 Gujarat Surat 360 (E), 01/05/1997

74 BSR 1 Multiple cross (CSC108-3 x CSV 4)16-3-1 x (MR 801 x R2751)

1997 Tamil Nadu Bha-vanisagr

360 (E), 01/05/1997

75 DSV 5(GRS 1) Selection from natte maldandi variety of Gulbarga locality

1996 Karnataka Dharwad 647(E), 09/09/1997

76 APK1 TNS 30 x CO 26

1996 Tamil Nadu Aruppu-kottai

662(E), 17/09/1997

77 DSV 4 E 36-1 x SPV 86


78 PAC 501 (ICI 501) - 1998 - Advanta 401(E), 15/05/1998

79 JJ 1041 SPV 475 x SPV 462

1997 Madhya Pradesh Indore 425(E), 08/06/1999

80 GJ 41 - 1999 Gujarat Surat, Gujarat

425(E), 08/06/1999

81 Co 27 Co 11 x S. Halepense

1999 Tamilnadu Ciom-batore

425(E), 08/06/1999

82 Panth Chari 5 (UPFS 32)

CS 3541 x IS 6935

1999 All kharif sorghum growing areas of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

Pantnagar 1050(E), 26/10/1999

83 Parbhani Sweta (PVK 801)

(SPV 1333)

Selection from ICRISAT population GDLP 34-5-5-3

1999 Maharashtra Parbhani 821(E), 13/09/2000

84 Phule Maulee (RSLG 262)

Selection from local landraces

2000 Maharashtra and Karnataka

Rahuri 821(E), 13/09/2000

85 NTJ 3 MJ 2092 x POD 24

2000 Andhra Pradesh Nandyal 821(E), 13/09/2000




38


86 Paiyur 2 Pure line selection from germplasm accession IS 15845

2001 Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu

92(E), 02/02/2001

87 Co (FS)29 TNS 30 x S. Sudanense


1134(E), 15/11/2001

88 CO(S)28 CO 25 x SPV 942

2001 Tamil Nadu Coim-batore

1134(E), 15/11/2001

89 K-11 K 7 x A6552 2004 Tamil Nadu Kovilpatti (Tamil Nadu)

161(E), 04/02/2004

90 Pratap jowar 1430 (SPV 1430)

Selection from SPV 96

2002 Rajasthan Udaipur 161(E), 04/02/2004

91 Gujarat Fodder Sorghum

- Gujarat Surat 122(E), 02/02/2005

92 Parbhani Moti (PVR 396) (SPV 1411)

Selection from ICRISAT population GD 31-4-2-3

2004 Maharashtra Parbhani 122(E), 02/02/2005

93 Bundela (SPV 1388) (Mass 9601)

- 2005 Utter Pradesh Maurani-pur

1566(E), 05/11/2005

94 Pant Chari 6 (UPMC 503)

SDSL 9210-MCT-36-93,Selection from Zimbabwe germplasm line

2005 Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh

Pantnagar 1572(E), 20/09/2006

95 Pusa Chari 615 PC 40 x PC 67 2006 Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh

IARI 1572(E), 20/09/2006

96 Phule Uttara (RSSGV 3)

Gulbhendi X SGS 8-4

2007 Maharashtra in rabi for alternate uses special purpose as Hurda (green tender grains)

Rahuri 122(E), 06/02/2007

97 HJ 513 (S 513) S 305 x (PJ7R x SPV 80)

2007 Haryana Hissar 1178(E), 20/07/2007

98 Phule Amututa (RSSV 9)

RSSV 2 x SPV 462-1-3 -7-2

2007 Kharif growing area of Maharashtra single cut forage

Rahuri 72(E), 10/01/2008

99 Phule Chitra

(SPV 1546)

SPV 655 x RSLG 112

2008 Maharashtra Rahuri 72(E), 10/01/2008

100 Phule Vasudha (TSV Kranti)

RSLG 206 x SPV 1047


101 AKSV 13R (PKV Kranti)

SPV 1201 x Ringani

2008 Maharashtra Akola 72(E), 10/01/2008

102 AKSSV 22 S 171 x HES 13 2009 Maharastra Akola 449(E), 11/02/2009





39

103 Kinnera (MJ 278) - 2010 Andhra Pradesh Madhira 211(E), 29/01/2010

104 Phule Anuradah (RSV 458)

RSLG 559 x RSLG 1175


105 Pratap Chari 1080 (Pratap chari 1080/ Rajastahan chari 3)

ICSR17 x SPV 946

2011 Rajasthan Udaipur 283(E) ,07/02/2011

106 Pant Chari 8 (UTMS 535)

Selection from SDSL95102-MC-2-93

2011 Uttarakhand (Multi cut)

Pantnagar 2326(E), 10/10/2011

107 Pant Chari 7 (UTFS 46)

Rio x [(IS 4907 x IS 4776) x (IS 607 x IS 8607)]

2011 Uttarakhand Pantnagar 2326(E), 10/10/2011

108 Co 30 APK 1 x TNS 291


1708(E), 26/07/2012

109 Phulu Revati (RSV 1006)

CSV 216 x SPV 502


110 Phule Panchami (RPOSV 3)

Selection from local land races


111 Wani 11/6 (PKV Ashwini)

Malkapur Wani x SPV 462

2013 Maharastra Akola 2817(E), 19/09/2013

112 HJ 541 SPV 80 x 29/1 (P20-1-1-2)

2014 Haryana Hissar 1146(E), 24/04/2014

113 Phule Suchitra (RSV 1098)

SPV 1359 x SPV 1502


114 SSG 59-3 selection of non sweet sudan grass × IS-263

- All over India - -

115 SSV 74 Selection from PAB 74

1999 All over India Dharwad -

116 PVK 809 PVK 801 x SOV 881

2004 Maharashtra Parbhani -

117 JJ 1022 SPV 475 x SPV 462

2006 Madhya Pradesh Indore -




40


Pedigree and origin of state released sorghum Hybrids




1 Kovilpatti tall 2219A x IS 3541

1976 Tamilnadu Kovilpatti 786, 02/02/1976

2 RSH 1 - 1976 - - 786, 02/02/1976

3 MSH 33 - 1977 - - 01/01/1977

4 MSH 37 - 1978 - - 01/01/19785 MSH 21 - 1978 - - 13, 19/12/19786 MSH 8 - 1978 - - 13, 19/12/19787 CoH 3 (USH 1) 2077A x 699

tall1985 Tamilnadu Coim-

batore832(E), 18/11/1985

8 DSH 1(SPH 196) 296A x SB 1085

1986 Kranataka Dharwad 01/01/1986

9 SPH 201 296 Ax PVR 10 1986 All over India Parbahani 867(E), 26/11/1986

10 SPH 388 (AKSH 73)

296 A x AKR 73 1990 Maharastra Akola 386(E), 15/05/1990

11 MFSH 3 S 31 x SG 101 1990 All over India Mahyco 386(E), 15/05/199012 Pro Agro Chari

(SSG 988)(PFF 1x PFG 2) x PFM 1

1991 - Pro Agro seeds

527(E), 16/08/1991

13 GFSH 1( SPH 139 3660 Ax IS 4776

1992 Gujarat Anand, Gujarat

814(E), 04/11/1992

14 CoH 4 296A x TNS 30 1993 Tamilnadu Coim-batore

615(E), 17/08/1993

15 Punjab Sudex Chari 1

2077A x SGL 87

1995 All over India Ludhiana 408(E), 04/05/1995

16 Hara Sona(855-F) (PFS 5A x PFS 5C)x PFS 5R

1995 All over India Pro Agro Seed

408 (E), 04/04/1995

17 Pusa Chari Hybrid 106

2219A x PC 23 1997 All over India IARI 360(E), 01/05/1997

18 MLSH 296 (MLSH 14)

MLSA 2 x MLSR 188

1997 Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu , Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh

Mahyco 647(E), 09/09/1997

19 Palem Sorghum Hybrid 1

PSA 3 x PSR 23 1999 AP Palem 425(E), 08/06/1999

20 Safed Moti (FSH 92079)

PSA 93016 x FSR 93025

1999 All over India Pro Agro Seeds

425(E), 08/06/1999

21 JKSH 22(JKSH 161)

JKS 3A x J 403 1999 All over India JK Agri Genetics

425(E), 08/06/1999

22 MahaBeej 7 (SPH 981)

MS 7A x 7R 2000 Maharastra Mahbeej Akola

821(E), 13/09/2000

23 SPH 840 MS 70A x ICSR 89058

2001 Maharsatra Akola 92(E), 02/02/2001


41




24 Adilabad Sorghum Hybrid 1

- 2001 AndhraPradesh - 1134(E), 15/11/2001

25 SPH 837 AKMS 14 Ax SU 556

200 Rajasthan Udaipur 937(E), 04/09/2002

26 DSH 4R SB 401A x SPV 570


27 CSH 21(MLSH 151) (SPH 1342)

MLSA-848 x MLR 34

2005 Maharashtra, Karnataka ,MP Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh

Mahendar Hybrid Seed/Emergent genetics Indai Pvt Ltd

1177(E), 25/08/2005

28 Pusa Chari Hybrid 109

AKMS 14A x SSG 611

2005 Northen States IARI 1566(E), 05/11/2005

29 CSH 26 (MLSH 296 Gold/DJ 2002) (SPH 1629)

MLSA-848 x r 400

2013 All over India Devgen Seeds

312(E), 01/02/2013

30 CSH 28 (NSH 54) (SPH 1647)

NS 516 A x NS 444R

2013 Maharashtra, Karnataka ,MP, South Gujarat and North Andhra Pradesh

Nuziveedu Seeds

312(E), 01/02/2013

31 Co 5 ICSA 51 x TNS 30


312(E),01/02/2013

32 CSH 31R (SPH 1666/DJ 4005)

MLSA 1426 x 6644R

2014 All over India Devgen Seeds

952(E), 30/07/2014

33 CSH 32 (SPH 1647/DJ 2004)

MLA 55 x R 421

2014 Maharashtra, Karnataka ,MP, South Gujarat and North Andhra Pradesh

Devgen Seeds

1919(E), 30/07/2014

34 SPH 1635 AKMS 30A x AKR 456

2015 Maharastra Akola 268(E), 28/01/2015

42

Millet Seed TechnologyTa

ble

11: P

edig

ree

and

orig

in o

f nati

onal

ly re

leas

ed so

rghu

m h

ybrid

s

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

1CS

H 1

CK 6

0A x

IS

84

NRC

S19

6440

45,

24/0

9/19

69Pl

ant h

eigh

t 14

0-16

0 cm

w

ith p

urpl

e pi

gmen

tatio

n.

Stem

med

ium

th

ick

juic

y, le

aves

da

rk g

reen

m

ediu

m in

siz

e,

leaf

to s

tem

ratio

hi

gh, e

arhe

ad

elon

gate

d,

coni

cal a

nd la

x,

glum

e of

str

aw

colo

ur a

nd la

rge,

gr

ain

crea

my

whi

te a

nd p

earl

y.

60A

: Pur

ple

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n, s

emi e

rect

le

aves

, med

ium

th

ick

stem

, w

ell e

xcre

ted,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

, elli

ptica

l ear

he

ad, b

lack

ish

purp

le g

lum

e,

120-

130c

m

heig

ht, w

hite

an

d m

ediu

m

seed

, 90-

95 d

ay

dura

tion

IS 8

4: P

urpl

e pl

ant,

dar

k gr

een,

dro

opin

g le

aves

, med

ium

th

ick

stem

, wel

l ex

cret

ed, s

emi

loos

e , c

onic

al e

ar

head

,sta

rw g

lum

e co

lour

, 130

-14

0cm

hei

ght,

w

hite

and

plu

mp

shap

ed m

ediu

m

seed

, 90-

95 d

ay

dura

tion

90-1

00Kh

arif

sorg

hum

gr

own

area

s of

Ta

mil

Nad

u, A

ndhr

a Pr

ades

h, K

arna

taka

, Ra

jast

han,

Utt

ar

Prad

esh,

Guj

arat

, M

ahar

asht

ra,

Mad

hyaP

rade

sh.

Spec

ific

adap

tion

to

low

rain

fall

and

light

so

il kh

arif

area

s of

co

untr

y.


43

2CS

H 2

CK 6

0A x

IS

369

1N

RCS

1965

786,

02

/02/

1976

Plan

t hei

ght 1

50-

180

cm in

hei

ght

with

pur

ple

pigm

enta

tion,

st

em th

ick

and

juic

y, le

aves

dar

k gr

een

and

larg

e,

earh

ead

shor

t,

oval

sha

ped

and

com

pact

. Glu

me

blac

kish

pur

ple

and

med

ium

si

zed.

Gra

ins

med

ium

siz

ed

,cre

amy

whi

te

and

pear

ly

60A

: Pur

ple

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n, s

emi e

rect

le

aves

, med

ium

th

ick

stem

, w

ell e

xcre

ted,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

, elli

ptica

l ear

he

ad, b

lack

ish

purp

le g

lum

e,

120-

130c

m

heig

ht, w

hite

an

d m

ediu

m

seed

, 90-

95 d

ay

dura

tion

IS 3

691:

Pur

ple

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n, d

roop

ing

leav

es, t

hin

stem

, exc

rete

d,

sem

i loo

se ,

oval

ear

hea

d,

redi

iish

purp

le

glum

e, 8

0-90

cm

heig

ht, w

hite

, ro

und

plum

p an

d m

ediu

m

seed

, 85-

90 d

ay

dura

tion

115-

120

Suita

ble

for

assu

red

rain

fall

mid

-late

kha

rif

trac

ts s

peci

ally

in

Karn

atak

a

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

44


3CS

H 3

2219

Ax

IS

3691

NRC

S19

7056

6 (E

), 21

/09/

1974

Plan

t hei

ght

150-

170

cm

with

pur

ple

pigm

entio

n.

Stem

thic

k an

d ju

icy.

Lea

ves

dark

gre

en a

nd

larg

e.Ea

rhea

d se

mi-c

ompa

ct

and

spin

dle

shap

ed w

ith

shor

t ped

uncl

e,

Glu

me

med

ium

in

size

and

redd

ish

purp

le in

col

our.

Gra

ins

med

ium

si

ze, c

ream

y w

hite

, pea

rly

and

hard

. Tol

eran

t to

sho

ot fl

y an

d re

sist

ant t

o le

af

spot

dis

ease

s,

dow

ny m

ildew

an

d su

gary

di

seas

e.

2219

A:T

an p

lant

, gr

een

and

sem

i er

ect l

eave

s, d

ark

gree

n m

idri

b,

med

ium

ste

m

thic

knes

s, N

on

tille

ring

, aw

n ab

sent

, col

our

less

and

med

ium

le

ngth

stig

ma,

ea

rly

flow

erin

g (5

8-62

day

s),

100-

110

cm

plan

t hei

ght,

w

ell e

xser

ted,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

ellip

tic e

ar

head

, pur

ple

colo

ured

glu

me,

no

n se

nesc

ence

, co

rneo

us

endo

sper

m,

plum

p sh

ape

seed

IS 3

691:

Pur

ple

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n, d

roop

ing

leav

es, t

hin

stem

, exc

rete

d,

sem

i loo

se ,

oval

ear

hea

d,

redd

ish

purp

le

glum

e, 8

0-90

cm

heig

ht, w

hite

, ro

und

plum

p an

d m

ediu

m

seed

, 85-

90 d

ay

dura

tion

150-

170

Ass

ured

rain

fall

trac

ts in

M

ahar

asht

ra,

Tela

ngan

a (A

P),

mon

soon

are

as o

f Ta

miln

adu,

Mal

wa

plat

eau

(MP)

and

Bu

ndel

khan

d (U

P)

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


45

4CS

H 4

1036

Ax

Swar

naN

RCS

1973

440,

21

/08/

1975

Plan

t hei

ght

160-

190

cm

with

pur

ple

pigm

enta

tion.

St

em m

ediu

m

thic

k, ju

icy.

Le

aves

dar

k gr

een

and

med

ium

in

size

. Ear

hea

ds

ellip

tical

and

se

mi-c

ompa

ct.

Glu

me

blac

kish

pu

rple

and

m

ediu

m in

si

ze. G

rain

s cr

eam

y w

hite

an

d m

ediu

m in

si

ze. M

oder

atel

y su

scep

tible

to

dow

ny m

ildew

, ru

st a

nd le

af s

pot

dise

ases

. Tol

eran

t to

lodg

ing.

103

6A: P

urpl

e pl

ant,

dar

k gr

een,

sem

i ere

ct

leav

es, m

ediu

m

thic

k st

em,

wel

l exc

rete

d,

sem

i com

pact

, e

llipti

cal e

ar

head

, bla

ckis

h pu

rple

glu

me,

12

0-13

0cm

he

ight

, whi

te

and

med

ium

se

ed, 9

0-95

day

du

ratio

n

Swar

na: P

urpl

e pl

ant,

dar

k gr

een,

ere

ct

leav

es, m

ediu

m

thic

k st

em,

wel

l exc

rete

d,

sem

i com

pact

, e

llipti

cal

ear

head

, bl

acki

sh p

urpl

e gl

ume,

150-

160c

m h

eigh

t,

whi

te, r

ound

pl

ump

and

med

ium

see

d,

95-1

00 d

ay

dura

tion

105-

110

All

khar

if an

d so

me

rabi

are

as a

ll ov

er

the

coun

try

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

46


5CS

H 5

2077

Ax

CS

3541

NRC

S19

7578

6,

02/0

2/19

76Pl

ant h

eigh

t 100

-20

0 cm

with

tan

pigm

enta

tion.

St

em th

ick

and

juic

y fu

lly

encl

osed

in le

af

shea

th. L

eave

s la

rgei

n si

ze a

nd

sem

i ere

ct.

Earh

ead

sem

i co

mpa

ct a

nd

spin

dal s

hape

d.

Glu

me

shor

t and

St

raw

col

oure

d.

Gra

ins

roun

d,

plum

p an

d w

hite

pea

rly.

Re

sist

ant t

o gr

ain

dete

rior

ation

an

d le

af s

pot

dise

ases

, 100

-120

da

ys d

urati

on

2077

A:T

an p

lant

, lig

ht g

reen

, se

mi e

rect

, dul

l gr

een

leav

es,

thic

k st

em,

colo

ured

stig

ma

wel

l ear

hea

d ex

ertio

n, lo

ng,

sem

i com

pact

, el

liptic

al e

ar

head

, 130

-140

cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t,

med

ium

pho

to

sens

itivi

ty, p

artia

l se

nesc

ence

, fr

eely

thre

shab

le,

non

lust

rous

sm

all g

rain

CS

354

1:Ta

n co

lour

ed p

lant

, lig

ht g

reen

co

lour

ed a

nd

sem

i ere

ct le

aves

, m

ediu

m th

ick

stem

, exs

erte

d,

com

pact

and

sl

ight

ly b

road

at

base

of p

anic

le,

135-

150

cm p

lant

he

ight

, pho

to

inse

nsiti

ve, f

reel

y th

resh

able

, st

raw

col

oure

d gl

ume,

whi

te

ellip

tic p

lum

p an

d sm

all s

ize

seed

, co

rneo

us a

nd

whi

te c

olou

red

endo

sper

m

100-

120

All

khar

if ar

eas

and

late

kha

rif t

ract

s of

A

ndhr

apra

desh

and

su

mm

er ir

riga

ted

area

s in

Tam

ilnad

u an

d Ka

rnat

aka.

W

ell a

dapt

ed fo

r in

terc

ropp

ing

and

ratio

ning

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


47

6CS

H 6

2219

Ax

CS

3541

NRC

S19

7710

04,

23/0

3/19

78Pl

ant h

eigh

t 150

-16

0 cm

with

tan

pigm

enta

tion.

St

em m

ediu

m

thic

k an

d ju

icy

fully

enc

lose

d in

leaf

she

ath.

Le

aves

med

ium

in

siz

e an

d se

mi

erec

t. E

arhe

ad

sem

i com

pact

an

d el

liptic

al.

Glu

me

shor

t and

St

raw

col

oure

d.

Gra

ins

ellip

tical

pl

ump

and

whi

te

pear

ly. R

esis

tant

to

all

maj

or

dise

ases

.

2219

A:T

an p

lant

, gr

een

and

sem

i er

ect l

eave

s, d

ark

gree

n m

idri

b,

med

ium

ste

m

thic

knes

s, N

on

tille

ring

, aw

n ab

sent

, col

our

less

and

med

ium

le

ngth

stig

ma,

ea

rly

flow

erin

g (5

8-62

day

s),

100-

110

cm

plan

t hei

ght,

w

ell e

xser

ted,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

ellip

tic e

ar

head

, pur

ple

colo

ured

glu

me,

no

n se

nesc

ence

, co

rneo

us

endo

sper

m,

plum

p sh

ape

seed

CS

354

1:Ta

n co

lour

ed p

lant

, lig

ht g

reen

co

lour

ed a

nd

sem

i ere

ct le

aves

, m

ediu

m th

ick

stem

, exs

erte

d,

com

pact

and

sl

ight

ly b

road

at

base

of p

anic

le,

135-

150

cm p

lant

he

ight

, pho

to

inse

nsiti

ve, f

reel

y th

resh

able

,

95-1

00Fo

r cu

ltiva

tion

in

khar

if, e

arly

rabi

an

d ra

bi s

easo

ns a

ll ov

er th

e co

untr

y.

Suita

ble

for

low

ra

infa

ll tr

acts

of

khar

if, a

nd la

te

khar

if se

ason

in A

P.

idea

lly s

uite

d fo

r in

terc

ropp

ing

and

ratio

ning

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

48


stra

w c

olou

red

glum

e, w

hite

el

liptic

plu

mp

and

smal

l siz

e se

ed,

corn

eous

and

w

hite

col

ored

en

dosp

erm

7CS

H 7

R36

Ax1

68N

RCS

1977

1004

, 23

/03/

1978

Plan

t hei

ght

130-

160

cm

with

pur

ple

pigm

enta

tion.

St

em th

ick,

ju

icy

and

fully

en

clos

ed in

le

af s

heat

h.

Leav

es b

road

an

d dr

oopi

ng.

Earh

ead

com

pact

an

d ov

al in

sha

pe.

Glu

me

redd

ish

purp

le, G

rain

s bo

ld, r

ound

and

w

hite

pea

rly.

To

lera

nt to

sho

ot

fly a

nd c

harc

oal

rot.

36A

: Pur

ple

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n, d

roop

ing

le

aves

, ova

l and

se

mi c

ompa

ct

ear

head

, bl

acki

sh p

urpl

e gl

ume,

whi

te

ellip

tical

and

med

ium

see

d,

100-

105

day

dura

tion

168:

Tan

pla

nt,

gree

n, d

roop

ing

leav

es, t

hick

st

em, w

ell

excr

eted

, co

mpa

ct ,

oval

he

adw

ith b

ent

pedu

ncle

, st

aw c

olou

red

glum

e,13

0-13

5

heig

ht, w

hite

, ro

und

plum

p an

d sm

all s

eed,

100

-10

5 da

y du

ratio

n

110-

115

Entir

e D

ecca

n ra

bi tr

act o

f M

ahar

asht

ra,

Karn

atak

a,

AP

and

also

sui

tabl

e fo

r G

ujar

at.

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


49

8CS

H 8

R36

A x

PD

3-1-

11Pa

rbha

ni19

7710

04,

23/0

3/19

78Pl

ant h

eigh

t 12

0-15

0 cm

w

ith p

urpl

e pi

gmen

tatio

n.

Stem

thic

k,

juic

y an

d fu

lly

encl

osed

in

leaf

she

ath,

Le

aves

bro

ad

and

droo

ping

. Ea

rhea

d co

mpa

ct

and

coni

cal

shap

ed, G

lum

e bl

acki

sh p

urpl

e.

Gra

ins

bold

and

el

liptic

al, w

hite

pe

arly

. Tol

eran

t to

sho

ot fl

y an

d ch

arco

al ro

t and

no

n-lo

dgin

g an

d su

itabl

e fo

r ea

rly

sow

ing.

36A

: Pur

ple

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n, d

roop

ing

le

aves

, ova

l and

se

mi c

ompa

ct

ear

head

, bl

acki

sh p

urpl

e gl

ume,

whi

te

ellip

tical

and

med

ium

see

d,

100-

105

day

dura

tion

PD3-

1-11

: Pur

ple

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n,

drop

ping

leav

es,

med

ium

thic

k st

em, e

xcre

ted,

se

mi l

oose

, co

nica

l ear

hea

d,

stra

w c

olou

red

glum

e,11

0-12

0cm

hei

ght,

w

hite

, elli

ptica

l fla

t and

med

ium

se

ed, 1

05-1

10

day

dura

tion

110-

115

Entir

e D

ecca

n ra

bi tr

act o

f M

ahar

asht

ra,

Karn

atak

a, A

P an

d al

so s

uita

ble

for

Guj

arat

.

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

50


9CS

H 9

296A

x C

S 35

41N

RCS

1983

19(E

), 14

/01/

1982

Plan

t hei

ght 1

75-

200

cm w

ith ta

n pi

gmen

tatio

n.

Stem

thic

k,

juic

y an

d fu

lly

encl

osed

in le

af

shea

th, L

eave

s m

ediu

m la

rge

and

droo

ping

. Ea

rhea

d se

mi-

com

pact

and

el

liptic

al w

ith

med

ium

long

pe

dunc

le. G

lum

e sh

ort a

nd s

traw

co

lour

ed. G

rain

s el

liptic

al,a

nd

whi

te p

earl

y.

Resi

stan

t to

all

maj

or d

isea

ses.

296

A :T

an p

lant

, lig

ht g

reen

w

ith d

roop

ing

leav

es, c

olou

r le

ss le

af m

idri

b,

thic

k st

em,

dwar

f, en

clos

ed

inte

rnod

es,

colo

ur le

ss

stigm

a, 1

20-

130

cm p

lant

he

ight

, lon

g,

sem

i com

pact

an

d cl

uste

red

blun

t ape

xed

(pig

m

outh

) pan

icle

, un

cons

picu

ous

awns

, 25%

gl

ume

cove

ring

, m

ediu

m p

hoto

se

nsiti

vity

, par

tial

sene

scen

ce,

free

ly th

resh

able

, ro

und

crea

my

and

non

lust

rous

se

ed

CS 3

541

;Tan

co

lour

ed p

lant

, lig

ht g

reen

co

lour

ed a

nd

sem

i ere

ct le

aves

, m

ediu

m th

ick

stem

, exs

erte

d,

com

pact

and

sl

ight

ly b

road

at

base

of p

anic

le,

135-

150

cm p

lant

he

ight

, pho

to

105-

110

All

khar

if so

rghu

m

grow

ing

area

s ex

cept

in h

umid

ar

eas

of K

arna

taka

an

d TN

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


51

inse

nsiti

ve, f

reel

y th

resh

able

, st

raw

col

oure

d gl

ume,

whi

te

ellip

tic p

lum

p an

d sm

all s

ize

seed

, co

rneo

us a

nd

whi

te c

olou

red

endo

sper

m

10CS

H 1

029

6A x

SB

1085

Dha

rwad

1984

867

(E),

26/1

1/19

86Pl

ant h

eigh

t 200

-25

0 cm

with

tan

pigm

enta

tion,

st

em m

ediu

m

thic

k an

d fu

lly

encl

osed

in le

af

shea

th, l

eave

s m

ediu

m s

ized

an

d dr

oopi

ng,

Earh

ead

sem

i-co

mpa

ct a

nd o

val

shap

ed w

ith s

hort

pe

dunc

le, G

lum

e sh

ort a

nd s

traw

co

lour

ed, s

eed

med

ium

siz

ed,

roun

d an

d lig

ht

crea

m c

olou

red.

To

lera

nt to

gr

ain

mol

ds a

nd

resi

stan

t to

leaf

sp

ot d

isea

ses

and

char

coal

rot.

296

A :T

an p

lant

, lig

ht g

reen

with

dr

oopi

ng le

aves

, co

lour

less

leaf

m

idri

b, th

ick

stem

, dw

arf,

encl

osed

inte

r-no

des,

col

our

less

stig

ma,

120

-13

0 cm

pla

nt

heig

ht, l

ong,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

clus

tere

d bl

unt a

pexe

d (p

ig

mou

th) p

anic

le,

unco

nspi

cuou

s aw

ns, 2

5% g

lum

e co

veri

ng, m

e-di

um p

hoto

sen

-si

tivity

, par

tial s

e-ne

scen

ce, f

reel

y th

resh

able

, rou

nd

crea

my

and

non

lust

rous

see

d

SB 1

085

:Tan

,Drr

opin

g w

ith y

ello

wis

h gr

een

mid

rib,

Thin

100-

115

For

Karn

atak

a st

ate

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

52


fully

enc

lose

d in

le

af s

heat

h, s

emi

com

pact

, sta

rw

red,

Roun

d,pe

arly

an

d cr

eam

co-

lour

ed

11CS

H 1

129

6A x

MR

750

ICRI

SAT

1986

867

(E),

26/1

1/19

86Pl

ant h

eigh

t 160

-19

0 cm

. Ste

m

med

ium

thic

k,

mod

rera

tely

juic

y,

inte

rnod

es fu

lly

encl

osed

in le

af

shea

th. L

eave

s m

ediu

m s

ize

tan

pigm

ente

d an

d du

ll gr

een

mid

rib

. Ear

head

se

mi o

pen

and

wel

l exe

rted

w

ith e

long

ated

pe

dunc

le. G

lum

e sh

ort a

nd s

traw

co

lour

ed, f

ree

thre

shin

g an

d aw

nles

s. S

eed

med

ium

siz

e,

oval

sha

ped,

th

in p

eric

arp,

lig

ht c

ream

y co

lour

, cor

neou

s en

dosp

erm

. M

oder

atel

y re

sist

ant t

o do

wny

mild

ew.

296A

:Tan

pla

nt,

light

gre

en

with

dro

opin

g le

aves

, col

our

less

leaf

mid

rib,

th

ick

stem

, dw

arf,

encl

osed

in

tern

odes

, co

lour

less

sti

gma,

120

-13

0 cm

pla

nt

heig

ht, l

ong,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

clus

tere

d bl

unt a

pexe

d (p

ig

mou

th) p

anic

le,

unco

nspi

cuou

s aw

ns, 2

5%

glum

e co

veri

ng,

med

ium

pho

to

sens

itivi

ty, p

artia

l se

nesc

ence

, fr

eely

thre

shab

le,

roun

d cr

eam

y an

d no

n lu

stro

us

seed

M

R 75

0:Ta

n pl

ant,

gre

en

leav

es a

nd

hori

zont

al in

105-

115

All

khar

if so

rghu

m

grow

ing

area

s

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


53

posi

tion,

dul

l gr

een

mid

rib

colo

ur, t

hin

stem

, w

ell e

xser

ted,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

coni

cal

shap

e ea

r he

ad,

plan

t hei

ght 1

30-

150c

m, p

hoto

in

sens

itive

, lig

ht

pink

glu

me

colo

ur

and

shor

t len

gth,

aw

ns a

bsen

t,

colo

ured

stig

ma

and

shor

t len

gth,

se

ed c

ream

y w

hite

, elli

ptic

flat a

nd m

ediu

m

size

, lig

ht y

ello

w

and

corn

eous

en

dosp

erm

12CS

H 1

2R29

6A x

M

148-

138

Dha

rwad

1986

867

(E),

26/1

1/19

86Pl

ant h

eigh

t 20

0-25

0 cm

w

ith p

urpl

e

igm

enta

tion,

stem

m

ediu

m th

ick

and

fully

enc

lose

d in

leaf

she

ath,

le

aves

med

ium

an

d dr

oopi

ng,

Earh

ead

sem

i-co

mpa

ct a

nd

coni

cal i

n sh

ape,

gl

ume

stra

w/r

ed

colo

ured

, see

d m

ediu

m s

ize

and

crem

y w

hite

. pa

nicl

es a

re s

emi,

296A

:Tan

pla

nt,

light

gre

en

with

dro

opin

g le

aves

, col

our

less

leaf

mid

rib,

th

ick

stem

, dw

arf,

encl

osed

in

tern

odes

, co

lour

less

sti

gma,

120

-13

0 cm

pla

nt

heig

ht, l

ong,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

clus

tere

d bl

unt a

pexe

d (p

ig

mou

th) p

anic

le,

unco

nspi

cuou

s

115-

120

All

rabi

sor

ghum

gr

owin

g ar

eas

of M

ahar

asht

ra,

Karn

atak

a an

d A

ndhr

a Pr

ades

h

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

54

Millet Seed Technology S

No

Nam

e of

Cu

ltiva

rPe

digr

ee/

Pare

ntag

eDe

volo

ping

Ce

nter

Year

Noti

ficati

on/

Num

ber/

Da

te

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

com

pact

and

con

-ic

al in

sha

pe. T

ol-

eran

t to

char

coal

ro

t. In

cide

nce

of

shoo

fly a

nd s

tem

bo

rer

is lo

w.

awns

, 25%

gl

ume

cove

ring

, m

ediu

m p

hoto

se

nsiti

vity

, par

tial

sene

scen

ce,

free

ly th

resh

able

, ro

und

crea

my

and

non

lust

rous

se

ed

M14

8-13

8 :P

urpl

e pi

men

ted

plnt

,gre

en a

nd

droo

ping

leav

es

with

whi

te m

id

rib,

med

ium

ste

m

fully

enc

lose

d in

leaf

she

ath,

pl

ant h

eigh

t 15

0-18

0cm

, aw

ns p

rese

nt,

sem

i-com

pact

an

d br

oade

r ba

se p

anic

le,

med

ium

to lo

ng

leng

th s

tigm

a,

med

ium

leng

th

glum

e st

raw

/red

, fr

eely

thre

shab

le,

roun

d, b

old,

cr

eam

y lu

stro

us

seed

. Mod

erat

ely

resi

stan

t to

maj

or d

isea

ses

, sus

cepti

ble

to

maj

or p

ests


55

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

13CS

H 1

3R29

6A x

RS

29N

RCS

1991

527(

E),

17/0

8/19

91

Plan

t hei

ght

210

cm w

ith ta

n pi

gmen

tatio

n,

bott

om

inte

rnod

es

encl

osed

and

to

p ex

pose

d,

pani

cle

broa

d se

mi-l

ax, s

pind

le

shap

ed, s

eed

roun

d m

ediu

m

bold

ligh

t cre

amy

in c

olou

r an

d fr

ee th

resh

ing.

To

lera

nce

to g

rain

m

olds

, lod

ging

an

d re

sist

ance

to

leaf

sop

t dis

ease

s

296A

:Tan

pla

nt,

light

gre

en

with

dro

opin

g le

aves

, col

our

less

leaf

mid

rib,

th

ick

stem

, dw

arf,

encl

osed

in

tern

odes

, co

lour

less

sti

gma,

120

-13

0 cm

pla

nt

heig

ht, l

ong,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

clus

tere

d bl

unt a

pexe

d (p

ig

mou

th) p

anic

le,

unco

nspi

cuou

s aw

ns, 2

5%

glum

e co

veri

ng,

med

ium

pho

to

sens

itivi

ty, p

artia

l se

nesc

ence

, fr

eely

thre

shab

le,

roun

d cr

eam

y an

d no

n lu

stro

us

seed

RS

29

:Tan

pla

nt,

gree

n co

lour

and

dr

oopi

ng le

aves

, du

ll gr

een

mid

rib,

m

ediu

m s

tem

th

ickn

ess,

wel

l ex

sert

ed, s

emi

com

pact

and

co

nicl

e sh

ape

ear

head

, glu

me

colo

ur s

traw

to

red,

150

-180

105-

110

AP,

Guj

arat

, TN

, Ka

rnat

aka,

MP,

H

arya

na, R

ajas

than

, M

ahar

asht

ra &

UP

56


cm p

lant

hei

ght,

m

oder

ate

phot

o se

nsiti

ve, s

hort

le

ngth

and

co

lour

ed s

tigm

a,

awns

abs

ent,

cr

eam

y, ro

und

and

med

ium

siz

e se

ed, e

ndos

perm

lig

ht y

ello

w a

nd

corn

eous

14CS

H 1

4A

KMS1

4A

x A

KR15

0A

kola

1992

386(

E),

15/0

5/19

90Pl

ant h

eigh

t 170

-20

0 cm

with

tan

pigm

enta

tion,

st

em th

ick

and

ju

icy,

pur

ple

at

the

base

dur

ing

initi

al s

tage

s of

gr

owth

till

20

days

, gre

en b

road

dr

oopi

ng le

af

with

dul

l gre

en

mid

rib

,ear

head

lo

ng a

nd s

emi-

com

pact

, glu

me

stra

w c

olou

red

and

cove

rs 1

/3

the

seed

, see

d m

ediu

m ro

und

pear

ly w

hite

lu

stro

us s

eed,

to

lera

nt to

gra

in

mol

d an

d le

af

spot

dis

ease

s

AKM

S14A

:Tan

co

lour

ed p

lant

, pa

le g

reen

and

dr

oopi

ng le

aves

, du

ll gr

een

leaf

m

idri

b, th

ick

stem

, exs

erte

d,

sem

i com

pact

an

d el

liptic

al

shap

e ea

r he

ad,

stra

w a

nd 1

/3

cove

red

glum

e,

awns

abs

ent,

sh

ort l

engt

h an

d co

lour

less

stig

ma,

ea

rly

flow

erin

g (6

0-65

day

s),

plan

t hei

ght 1

45-

150c

m, p

artia

l se

nesc

ence

, ph

oto

inse

nsiti

ve,

free

ly th

resh

able

, m

ediu

m s

ize,

co

rneo

us a

nd

roun

d se

ed

AKR

150

:Tan

pl

ant,

dar

k

105-

120

All

khar

if so

rghu

m

grow

ing

area

s in

the

med

ium

to h

eavy

so

ils fo

r lo

w ra

infa

ll ar

eas

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


57

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

gree

n co

lour

and

dr

oopi

ng le

aves

, du

ll gr

een

mid

rib,

le

af s

heat

h an

d m

argi

n vi

olet

co

lour

ed, t

hick

st

em, e

xser

ted,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

coni

cle

shap

e ea

r he

ad, g

lum

e co

lour

str

aw a

nd

1/3

red

cove

red,

14

0-15

0 cm

pl

ant h

eigh

t,

phot

o in

sens

itive

, co

lour

ed a

nd

med

ium

siz

e sti

gma,

sho

rt

leng

th g

lum

e,

awns

abs

ent,

w

hite

, rou

nd

and

med

ium

siz

e se

ed, e

ndos

perm

lig

ht y

ello

w a

nd

corn

eous

15CS

H 1

5R10

4A x

RS

585

NRC

S, M

PKV

1995

1(E)

, 01

/01/

1996

Pl

ant h

eigh

t 190

cm

with

pur

ple

pigm

enta

tion,

to

p in

tern

odes

ex

pose

d le

aves

da

rk g

reen

and

dr

oopi

ng p

anic

le

sem

i-com

pact

an

d cy

lindr

ical

in

sha

pe, g

lum

e

shor

t and

str

aw

colo

ured

, see

d pe

arly

whi

te

roun

d ve

ry b

old

and

free

104A

:Tan

co

lour

ed p

lant

, da

rk g

reen

and

er

ect l

eave

s,

whi

te c

olou

red

mid

rib,

med

ium

th

ick

stem

, ex

sert

ed b

oot

leaf

touc

hing

ba

se o

f ear

hea

d,

sem

i com

pact

an

d cy

lindr

ical

110

All

rabi

sor

ghum

gr

owin

g ar

eas

in

Mah

aras

htra

, Nor

th-

wes

tern

AP

and

Sout

h Ka

rnat

aka

58


No

Nam

e of

Cu

ltiva

rPe

digr

ee/

Pare

ntag

eDe

volo

ping

Ce

nter

Year

Noti

ficati

on/

Num

ber/

Da

te

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

thre

shin

g,

tole

rant

to s

hoot

fly

and

cha

rcoa

l ro

t.

shap

e pa

nicl

e,

brow

n w

ith

redd

ish

base

co

lour

ed g

lum

e,

plan

t hei

ght

130

cm, a

wn

pres

ent,

bro

ad

leav

es, p

hoto

in

sens

itive

, goo

d gr

ain

with

erin

g re

actio

n, p

artia

l se

nesc

ence

, bo

ld a

nd ro

und

seed

, yel

low

an

d co

rneo

us

endo

sper

m

RS

585:

It is

gr

ayed

pur

ple,

m

ediu

m ta

ll,

yello

w g

reen

mid

ri

b, s

emi l

oose

pa

nicl

e, c

ircul

ar

and

bold

see

d,

gray

ed re

d gl

ume

16CS

H 1

627

A x

C43

NRC

S19

9764

7(E)

, 09

/09/

1997

Pl

ant h

eigh

t 18

0 cm

with

tan

pigm

enta

tion,

le

af g

reen

with

w

hite

mid

rib

colo

ur, p

anic

le

long

cyl

indr

ical

, se

mila

x an

d fr

ee

exer

tion.

Glu

me

stra

w in

col

our

and

shor

t, s

eed

bold

, rou

nd,

pear

ly, h

ighl

y to

lera

nt to

27A

:Tan

pla

nt,

gree

n, b

road

an

d er

ect l

eave

s,

dull

gree

n le

af

mid

rib,

med

ium

th

ick

stem

, wel

l ex

sert

ed, s

emi

lax

and

cylin

dric

al

ear

head

, co

lour

ed a

nd

med

ium

leng

th

stigm

a, 1

30-1

35

cm p

lant

hei

ght,

sh

ort

110

Khar

if so

rghu

m

grow

n ar

eas

of

Mah

aras

htra

,Tam

il N

adu,

And

hra

Prad

esh,

Guj

arat

, Ka

rnat

aka,

M

adhy

aPra

desh

, Ra

jast

han

and

Utt

ar

Prad

esh.


59

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

grai

n m

old

and

resi

stan

t to

leaf

di

seas

es.

leng

th g

lum

e,

crea

m c

olou

r, bo

ld a

nd ro

und

seed

, lig

ht y

ello

w

and

corn

eous

en

dosp

erm

C

43 :T

an p

alnt

an

d du

ll gr

een

leaf

mid

rib,

thic

k st

em,to

uchi

ng

ear

head

xc

ertio

n,co

mpa

ct

and

coni

cal s

hape

pa

nicl

e,lig

ht

red

colo

ured

gl

ume,

awn

abse

nt,w

hite

ro

und

lust

rous

an

d bo

ld

seed

,cor

neou

s an

d en

dosp

erm

17CS

H 1

7A

KMS

14A

x

RS 6

73N

RCS

1998

425(

E),

08/0

6/19

99

Plan

t hei

ght

203

cm w

ith ta

n en

tatio

n,en

clos

ed

inte

rnod

es,

leav

es g

reen

, dr

oopi

ng w

ith

whi

te m

id-

rib,

pan

icle

se

mi-l

oose

an

d el

liptic

al in

sh

ape,

glum

e sh

ort a

nd s

traw

co

lour

ed, p

earl

y w

hite

roun

d se

ed

and

free

thre

sh-

ing.

tole

rant

to

AKM

S 14

A:T

an

colo

ured

pla

nt,

pale

gre

en a

nd

droo

ping

leav

es,

dull

gree

n le

af

mid

rib,

thic

k st

em, e

xser

ted,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

and

ellip

tical

sh

ape

ear

head

, st

raw

and

1/3

co

vere

d gl

ume,

aw

ns a

bsen

t,

shor

t len

gth

and

colo

urle

ss s

tigm

a,

earl

y flo

wer

ing

A

ll kh

arif

sorg

hum

gr

owin

g ar

eas

of R

ajas

than

, M

adhy

apra

desh

, G

ujar

at &

Tam

ilnad

u

60


No

Nam

e of

Cu

ltiva

rPe

digr

ee/

Pare

ntag

eDe

volo

ping

Ce

nter

Year

Noti

ficati

on/

Num

ber/

Da

te

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

shoo

tfly

and

ste

m

bore

r eq

ual t

o CS

H 1

4.

(60-

65 d

ays)

, pl

ant h

eigh

t 145

-15

0cm

, par

tial

sene

scen

ce,

phot

o in

sens

itive

, fr

eely

thre

shab

le,

med

ium

siz

e,

corn

eous

and

ro

und

seed

R

S 67

3 :T

an

colo

ured

pla

nt,

gree

n co

lour

ed

and

droo

ping

le

aves

, whi

te le

af

mid

rib,

med

ium

th

ick

stem

, wel

l ex

sert

ed e

ar h

ead

, sem

i com

pact

an

d co

nicl

e sh

ape

pani

cle,

str

aw

colo

ured

glu

me,

co

lour

less

and

m

ediu

m s

ize

stigm

a, 1

76 c

m

plan

t hei

ght,

ph

oto

inse

nsiti

ve

and

parti

al

thre

shab

le g

rain

, aw

n ab

sent

, w

hite

, rou

nd,

lust

rous

and

m

ediu

m b

old

seed

, cor

neou

s en

dosp

erm


61

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

18CS

H 1

8IM

S 9A

x

Indo

re 1

2In

dore

1999

1050

(E),

26/1

0/19

99

Plan

t hei

ght

210-

225

cm w

ith

tan

pigm

enta

-tio

n, b

road

gr

een

leav

es a

nd

droo

ping

with

du

ll gr

een

mid

-ri

b.st

em g

reen

, th

ick

and

juic

y,

node

cov

ered

by

leaf

she

ath,

w

hich

is p

urpl

e at

bas

e. E

arhe

ad

ng,e

llipti

cal,s

emi-

com

pact

up

to

mid

dle

with

loos

e an

d po

inte

d ap

ex

with

long

ped

in-

cule

. Glu

me

red

to p

ink

in c

olou

r an

d sh

ort.

Gra

in

pear

ly w

hite

, m

ediu

m b

old

lust

rous

see

d.

Resi

stan

t to

grai

n m

old

IMS

9A :T

an

colo

ured

pla

nt,

pale

gre

en,

droo

ping

, bro

ad

and

long

leav

es,

dull

gree

n le

af

mid

rib,

med

ium

th

ick

stem

, wel

l ex

sert

ed a

nd

sem

i com

pact

ea

r he

ad, S

traw

pi

nk g

lum

e, 1

86

cm p

lant

hei

ght,

ph

oto

inse

nsiti

ve,

free

ly th

resh

able

, pa

rtial

se

nesc

ence

, ro

und,

med

ium

bo

ld, p

earl

y w

hite

see

d,

corn

eous

and

w

hite

col

oure

d en

dosp

erm

In

dore

12

:Tan

co

lour

ed p

lant

, da

rk g

reen

co

lour

ed a

nd

sem

i ere

ct le

aves

, du

ll gr

een

leaf

m

idri

b, th

ick

stem

, exe

rtion

ju

st n

eck,

sem

i co

mpa

ct a

nd

sym

met

ric

shap

e pa

nicl

e, s

hort

le

ngth

and

pin

k co

lour

ed

110-

115

All

khar

if se

ason

as

a ra

infe

d cr

op in

so

rghu

m g

row

ing

stat

es in

cou

ntry

62


glum

e, c

olou

rles

s sti

gma,

158

cm

pl

ant h

eigh

t,

phot

o in

sens

itive

an

d pa

rtial

th

resh

able

gra

in,

awn

abse

nt,

whi

te, r

ound

, lu

stro

us a

nd

med

ium

bol

d se

ed, c

orne

ous

endo

sper

m

19CS

H 1

9R10

4A x

A

KR R

354

Ako

la20

0082

1(E)

, 13

/09/

2000

Plan

t hei

ght 2

25

cm w

ith n

onta

n pi

gmen

tatio

n,

stem

juic

y,

inte

rnod

es

encl

osed

. Lea

ves

broa

d, g

reen

, dr

oopi

ng w

ith

dull

gree

n m

idri

b co

lour

. Pan

icle

se

mi-c

ompa

ct,

cylin

dric

al s

hape

w

ith s

hort

pe

dunc

le. G

lum

e sh

ort a

nd fa

int

red

in c

olou

r. se

ed

pear

ly

whi

te, s

light

ly fl

at

med

ium

siz

e se

ed

104A

:Tan

co

lour

ed p

lant

, da

rk g

reen

and

er

ect l

eave

s,

whi

te c

olou

red

mid

rib,

med

ium

th

ick

stem

, ex

sert

ed b

oot

leaf

touc

hing

ba

se o

f ear

hea

d,

sem

i com

pact

an

d cy

lindr

ical

sh

ape

pani

cle,

br

own

with

re

ddis

h ba

se

colo

ured

glu

me,

pl

ant h

eigh

t 13

0 cm

, aw

n pr

esen

t, b

road

le

aves

, pho

to

inse

nsiti

ve, g

ood

grai

n w

ither

ing

reac

tion,

par

tial

sene

scen

ce, b

old

and

roun

d

117

All

rabi

sor

ghum

gr

owin

g ar

eas

of th

e co

untr

y

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


63

seed

, yel

low

an

d co

rneo

us

endo

sper

m

AKR

R35

4 :T

an

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n an

d dr

oopi

ng

leav

es, w

ell

exse

rted

, sem

i co

mpa

ct e

ar

head

, 18

0-19

0 cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t,

free

ly th

resh

able

, pe

arly

, non

lu

stro

us a

nd

med

ium

sm

all

size

see

d, li

ght

yello

w, c

orne

ous

endo

sper

m20

CSH

20

MF

2219

A

X U

PMC

503

Pant

naga

r20

0511

72(E

), 25

/08/

2005

Plan

t hei

ght 2

00-

230

cm w

ith ta

n pi

gmen

tatio

n,

dark

gre

en h

eavy

fo

liage

with

gre

en

mid

rib,

med

ium

th

ick

juic

y an

d se

mi s

wee

t st

em ,p

anic

le

cylin

dric

al, g

lum

e st

raw

col

oure

d,

cary

opsi

s c

olou

r w

hite

. Res

ista

nt

to fo

liar

dise

ase

2219

A :T

an

plan

t, g

reen

and

se

mi e

rect

leav

es,

dark

gre

en m

id-

rib,

med

ium

ste

m

thic

knes

s, N

on

tille

ring

, aw

n ab

sent

, col

our

less

and

med

ium

le

ngth

stig

ma,

ea

rly

flow

erin

g (5

8-62

day

s),

100-

110

cm p

lant

he

ight

, wel

l ex-

sert

ed, s

emi c

om-

pact

and

elli

ptic

ear

head

, pur

ple

colo

ured

glu

me,

100-

105

Nor

th w

est p

lain

zo

ne

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

64


non

sene

scen

ce,

corn

eous

end

o-sp

erm

, plu

mp

shap

e se

ed

UPM

C 50

3(

Pant

cha

ri 6

):T

an p

lant

,ere

ct

and

dark

gre

en

aves

,tille

ring

,fast

gr

owth

with

re

gene

ratio

n ab

ility

,med

ium

th

ick

wel

l te

d,se

mic

ompa

ct

and

sym

met

ric

ear

head

with

lig

ht b

row

n gl

ume,

seed

sm

all

and

ellip

tic,7

5%

corn

eous

with

w

hite

end

ospe

rm

parti

ally

thre

sh-

able

21CS

H 2

2 SS

ICSA

38

x SS

V 84

NRC

S20

0515

66(E

), 05

/11/

2005

Plan

t hei

ght

300-

400

cm,

yello

wis

h gr

een

stem

has

one

vi

sibl

e lo

ng n

otch

at

bud

initi

ation

si

te. G

ood

cane

an

d ju

ice

yiel

d.

Pani

cle

broa

der

in lo

wer

and

par

t,

sem

i-com

pact

, gl

ume

grey

ed

red,

gra

in c

ircul

ar

and

crea

my

whi

te.

ICSA

38

: pl

ant h

eigh

t 11

5-12

0cm

,Day

s to

50%

Fl

ower

ing-

72da

ys

SSV

84 :N

on T

an

plan

t,dr

oopi

ng

leav

es,p

lant

he

ight

Ver

y ta

ll, w

ith s

emi

com

pact

ear

ad

,obl

ong,

glum

e co

lour

redd

ish

shor

t len

gth

pear

ly w

hite

115-

125

Irri

gate

d ar

ea o

f In

dia

in k

hari

f

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


65

Mod

erat

ely

tole

rant

to s

hoot

fly

and

ste

m

bore

r.

seed

with

turt

le

blac

ksah

pefr

eely

th

resh

able

,

22CS

H 2

3M

S 7A

x

RS 6

27N

RCS

2005

1566

(E),

05/1

1/20

05Pl

ant h

eigh

t 18

0 cm

with

tan

pigm

enta

tion,

in

tern

odes

en

clos

ed, l

eaf

gree

n, b

road

, dr

oopi

ng w

ith

dull

mid

rib

colo

ur, p

anic

le

cylin

dric

al a

nd

sem

i-com

pact

, gl

ume

shor

t and

st

raw

col

oure

d,

seed

med

ium

bo

ld r

ound

and

w

hitis

h. R

esis

tant

to

gra

in m

old.

MS

7A :T

an

colo

ured

pa

lnt,

pale

gre

en

and

droo

ping

le

aves

,dul

l gre

en

leaf

mid

rib,

thic

k em

,exc

erte

d,se

mi

com

pact

and

el

liptic

al s

hape

ea

r he

ad,s

traw

co

lour

ed

glum

e,aw

ns

abse

nt,c

olou

rles

s sti

gma,

med

ium

si

ze a

nd c

orne

ous

seed

R

S 62

7 :T

an

plan

t,en

clos

ed

ear

head

,gre

en

colo

ured

dr

oopi

ng

leaf

with

dul

l m

idri

b,el

liptic

al

and

sem

i ac

t,pa

nicl

e,gl

ume

stra

w a

nd

shor

t fre

ely

esah

ble,

,med

ium

si

ze n

ad ro

und

seed

105

All

over

Indi

a

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

66


23CS

H 2

4 M

FIC

SA 4

67

X Pa

nt

char

i 6

Pant

naga

r20

0821

87(E

), 27

/08/

2009

Plan

t hei

ght 2

00-

210

cm w

ith ta

n pi

gmen

tatio

n,

light

gre

en

folia

ge w

ith

gree

n m

id r

ib,

sem

i dro

opin

g,

thic

k an

d ju

icy

stem

. Nar

row

cy

lindr

ical

sem

i-co

mpa

ct p

anic

le

with

str

aigh

t pe

dunc

le. w

hite

, m

ediu

m b

old

seed

, med

ium

m

atur

ity,

resi

stan

t to

grai

n m

old

ICSA

467

:Tan

pl

ant ,

gree

n am

d er

ect l

eave

s,no

n tll

erin

g,th

ick

stem

juic

y,w

ell

ted,

sem

icom

pact

w

ith s

ymm

etri

c pa

nicl

e,gl

ume

light

tan

colo

ured

,whi

te

med

ium

siz

e ,c

ircul

ar s

hape

se

ed,

Pan

t cha

ri 6

:T

an p

lant

,ere

ct

and

dark

gre

en

aves

,tille

ring

,fast

gr

owth

with

re

gene

ratio

n ab

ility

,med

ium

th

ick

wel

l te

d,se

mic

ompa

ct

and

sym

met

ric

ear

head

with

lig

ht b

row

n gl

ume,

seed

sm

all

and

ellip

tic,7

5%

corn

eous

with

w

hite

end

ospe

rm

parti

ally

th

resh

able

105-

110

All

Indi

a no

rth

wes

t pla

in z

one

(zon

e I i

nclu

ding

U

ttar

akha

nd,

Utt

arpr

ades

h,

Guj

arat

, Har

yana

, Pu

njab

and

Del

hi

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


67

24CS

H 2

5PM

S 28

A

x C

43Pa

rbha

ni

and

NRC

S20

0811

08(E

) 08

/05/

2008

Plan

t hei

ght

205

cm w

ith ta

n pi

gmen

tatio

n,

med

ium

leav

es

gree

n w

ith

whi

te m

id r

ib

med

ium

, pan

icle

lo

ng a

nd s

emi-

com

pact

,glu

me

stra

w a

nd s

hort

Pe

arly

whi

te,

med

ium

alm

ond

seed

, med

ium

m

atur

ity, t

oler

ant

to s

hoot

fly

PMS

28 A

: an

plan

t,gr

een

leaf

w

ith m

ediu

m

size

,thic

k st

em,d

war

f pl

ant,

com

pact

an

d lo

ng e

ar

head

,glu

me

stra

w c

olou

red

and

shor

t.pe

arly

, m

ediu

m s

ize

alm

ond

shap

e se

ed

C 43

:Tan

pal

nt

and

dull

gree

n le

af m

idri

b,th

ick

stem

,touc

hing

ea

r he

ad

xcer

tion,

com

pact

an

d co

nica

l sha

pe

pani

cle,

light

re

d co

lour

ed

glum

e,aw

n ab

sent

,whi

te

roun

d lu

stro

us

and

bold

se

ed,c

orne

ous

and

endo

sper

m

110-

115

Mah

aras

htra

in

khar

if se

ason

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

68


25CS

H 2

727

9A x

CB

11D

SR20

1131

2(E)

/0

/02/

2013

Plan

t hei

ght

198

cm w

ith ta

n pi

gmen

tatio

n,

med

ium

50%

flo

wer

ing

(65

days

), sy

mm

etri

c pa

nicl

e sh

ape,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

pani

cle

dens

ity

at m

atur

ity,

med

ium

pan

icle

le

ngth

with

out

pedu

ncle

, and

th

e gr

ain

size

of

mar

k of

ger

m

is m

ediu

m a

nd

yello

w w

hite

ca

ryop

sis

colo

ur

279A

: Tan

pla

nt,

64-6

6 da

ys to

50

% fl

ower

ing

(kha

rif)

, enc

lose

d in

tern

ode,

da

rk g

reen

leaf

co

lour

, dul

l gre

en

mid

rib

colo

ur,

erec

toph

yll

cano

py, f

ree

pani

cle

exer

tion,

sy

mm

etri

c pa

nilc

e sh

ape,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

pani

cle

com

pact

ness

, sm

all s

ize

pani

cle,

pu

rple

glu

me

colo

ur, 5

0%

glum

e co

veri

ng,

free

thre

shin

g,

bold

see

d si

ze,

whi

te s

eed

colo

ur, r

ound

el

liptic

al s

eed

shap

eCB

11:

Tan

pla

nt,

65-6

8 da

ys to

50

% fl

ower

ing

(kha

rif)

, enc

lose

d in

tern

ode,

gre

en l

106

And

hra

Prad

esh,

Ta

mil

Nad

u, U

ttar

Pr

ades

h, N

orth

G

ujar

at a

nd

Raja

stha

n

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


69

eaf c

olou

r, du

ll gr

een

mid

rib

colo

ur, d

roop

ing

cano

py, f

ree

pani

cle

exer

tion,

sy

mm

etri

c pa

nilc

e sh

ape,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

pani

cle

com

pact

ness

, m

ediu

m s

ize

pani

cle,

str

aw

glum

e co

lour

, 50

% g

lum

e co

veri

ng, f

ree

thre

shin

g, b

old

seed

siz

e, p

earl

y w

hite

see

d co

lour

, rou

nd

seed

sha

pe

26CS

H 3

041

5A x

CB

33D

SR20

12/0

2/20

13Pl

ant h

eigh

t 20

0 cm

with

tan

pigm

enta

tion,

ea

rly

50%

flo

wer

ing

(64

days

), sy

mm

etri

c pa

nicl

e sh

ape,

se

mi l

oose

pa

nicl

e de

nsity

at

mat

urity

, m

ediu

m p

anic

le

leng

th w

ithou

t pe

dunc

le, f

ree

415A

: Tan

pla

nt,

64 d

ays

to

50%

flow

erin

g (k

hari

f), e

nclo

sed

inte

rnod

e, li

ght

gree

n le

af c

olou

r, du

ll gr

een

mid

rib

colo

ur, d

roop

ing

cano

py, f

ree

pani

cle

exer

tion,

sy

mm

etri

c pa

nilc

e sh

ape,

sem

i lo

ose

pani

cle

com

pact

ness

,

105

Mah

aras

htra

, Ka

rnat

aka,

Mad

hya

Prad

esh,

Sou

th

Guj

arat

and

Nor

th

And

hra

Prad

esh

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on

70


thre

shab

ility

and

ye

llow

whi

te

cary

opsi

s co

lour

smal

l siz

e pa

nicl

e,

light

red

glum

e co

lour

, 25%

gl

ume

cove

ring

, fr

ee th

resh

ing,

bo

ld s

eed

size

, w

hite

see

d co

lour

, rou

nd

ellip

tical

see

d sh

ape

CB 3

3: T

an p

lant

, 65

-66

days

to

50%

flow

erin

g (k

hari

f), e

nclo

sed

inte

rnod

e, g

reen

le

af c

olou

r, du

ll gr

een

mid

rib

colo

ur, d

roop

ing

cano

py, f

ree

pani

cle

exer

tion,

sy

mm

etri

c pa

nilc

e sh

ape,

se

mi c

ompa

ct

pani

cle

com

pact

ness

, m

ediu

m s

ize

pani

cle,

str

aw

glum

e co

lour

, 50

% g

lum

e co

veri

ng, f

ree

thre

shin

g, b

old

seed

siz

e, p

earl

y w

hite

see

d co

lour

, rou

nd

seed

sha

pe

SN

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/ Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erYe

arN

otific

ation

/ N

umbe

r/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

va

riety

/Hyb

ridDe

scrip

tion

of

the

pare

nts o

f th

e Hy

brid

No

of

days

to

mat

urity

Area

of A

dapti

on


71

Tabl

e 12

: Ped

igre

e an

d or

igin

of n

ation

ally

rele

ased

sorg

hum

A /

B li

nes

S.N

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erN

otific

ation

/N

umbe

r/Da

te

Desc

riptio

n of

var

iety

/Hyb

ridId

entifi

ble

Disti

ngus

hing

m

orph

olog

ical

Cha

ract

ers

No

of d

ays

to m

atur

ity

129

6A&

BIS

392

2 x

Kara

d lo

cal

NRC

S19

(E),

14/0

1/19

82Ta

n pl

ant,

ligh

t gre

en w

ith d

roop

ing

leav

es, c

olou

r le

ss le

af m

idri

b, th

ick

stem

, dw

arf,

encl

osed

inte

rnod

es,

colo

ur le

ss s

tigm

a, 1

20-1

30 c

m

plan

t hei

ght,

long

, sem

i com

pact

an

d cl

uste

red

blun

t ape

xed

(pig

m

outh

) pan

icle

, un

cons

picu

ous

awns

, 25%

glu

me

cove

ring

, m

ediu

m p

hoto

sen

sitiv

ity, p

artia

l se

nesc

ence

,

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e, ta

n, d

war

f enc

lose

d in

tern

odes

, dro

opin

g,

leav

es w

hitis

h m

idri

b,

cylin

dric

al s

emi c

ompa

ct,

clus

tere

d bl

unt a

pex

of

the

pani

cle,

inco

nspi

cuou

s aw

ns, s

traw

col

our g

lum

es

cove

ring

abo

ut 1

/3 s

eed,

ro

und

med

ium

and

ligh

t cr

eam

y se

ed

95-1

05

222

19A

&B

Sele

ction

fr

om

Khar

if sh

allu

NRC

S56

6 (E

), 21

/09/

1974

Tan

plan

t, g

reen

and

sem

i ere

ct

leav

es, d

ark

gree

n m

idri

b, m

ediu

m

stem

thic

knes

s, N

on ti

lleri

ng, a

wn

abse

nt, c

olou

r le

ss a

nd m

ediu

m

leng

th s

tigm

a, e

arly

flow

erin

g (5

8-62

day

s), 1

00-1

10 c

m p

lant

hei

ght,

w

ell e

xser

ted,

sem

i com

pact

and

el

liptic

ear

hea

d, p

urpl

e co

lour

ed

glum

e, n

on s

enes

cenc

e, c

orne

ous

endo

sper

m, p

lum

p sh

ape

seed

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e,

tan,

ere

ct, n

on-ti

lleri

ng

type

with

sem

i ere

ct

leav

es a

nd w

ell e

xert

ed

sem

i-com

pact

elli

ptic,

st

raw

col

oure

d gl

umes

an

d w

hite

see

d

90-9

5

3A

KMS

14A

&B

(MR7

60 x

BT

632)

x

AKM

S 2B

Ako

la38

6(E)

, 15

/05/

1990

Tan

colo

ured

pla

nt, p

ale

gree

n an

d dr

oopi

ng le

aves

, dul

l gre

en le

af

mid

rib,

thic

k st

em, e

xser

ted,

sem

i co

mpa

ct a

nd e

llipti

cal s

hape

ear

he

ad, s

traw

and

1/3

cov

ered

glu

me,

aw

ns a

bsen

t, s

hort

leng

th a

nd

colo

urle

ss s

tigm

a, e

arly

flow

erin

g (6

0-65

day

s), p

lant

hei

ght 1

45-

150c

m, p

artia

l sen

esce

nce,

pho

to

inse

nsiti

ve, f

reel

y th

resh

able

, m

ediu

m s

ize,

cor

neou

s an

d ro

und

seed

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e, k

hari

f bas

ed w

ith

tan

pigm

enta

tion,

gr

een

droo

ping

leav

es

with

whi

te m

idri

b an

d en

clos

ed in

tern

odes

. Ea

rhea

d is

elli

ptica

l, se

mi-

loos

e w

ith s

traw

col

oure

d gl

umes

and

see

d is

cha

lky

whi

te in

col

our

and

roun

d in

sha

pe

90-9

5

72

Millet Seed TechnologyS.

No

Nam

e of

Cu

ltiva

rPe

digr

ee/

Pare

ntag

eDe

volo

ping

Ce

nter

Noti

ficati

on/

Num

ber/

Date

Desc

riptio

n of

var

iety

/Hyb

ridId

entifi

ble

Disti

ngus

hing

m

orph

olog

ical

Cha

ract

ers

No

of d

ays

to m

atur

ity

427

A&

B83

B x

199B

NRC

S64

7(E)

, 09

/09/

1997

Tan

plan

t, g

reen

, bro

ad a

nd e

rect

le

aves

, dul

l gre

en le

af m

idri

b,

med

ium

thic

k st

em, w

ell e

xser

ted,

se

mi l

ax a

nd c

ylin

dric

al e

ar h

ead,

co

lour

ed a

nd m

ediu

m le

ngth

sti

gma,

130

-135

cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t,

shor

t len

gth

glum

e, c

ream

col

our,

bold

and

roun

d se

ed, l

ight

yel

low

an

d co

rneo

us e

ndos

perm

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e, ta

n w

ith d

ark

gree

n se

mi e

rect

leav

es a

nd

long

, cyl

indr

ical

sem

i-lax

pa

nicl

es, g

reen

col

oure

d sti

gma

95-9

8

5M

S 7A

&B

Sele

ction

fr

om

AKM

S 14

A

NRC

S15

66(E

), 05

/11/

2005

Tan

colo

ured

pla

nt, p

ale

gree

n an

d dr

oopi

ng le

aves

, dul

l gre

en le

af

mid

rib,

thic

k st

em, e

xser

ted,

sem

i co

mpa

ct a

nd e

llipti

cal s

hape

ear

he

ad, s

traw

col

oure

d gl

ume,

aw

ns

abse

nt, s

hort

leng

th a

nd c

olou

rles

s sti

gma,

ear

ly fl

ower

ing

(60-

65 d

ays)

, pl

ant h

eigh

t 145

-150

cm, p

artia

l se

nesc

ence

, pho

to in

sens

itive

, fr

eely

thre

shab

le, m

ediu

m s

ize,

co

rneo

us a

nd ro

und

seed

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e.

It is

tan

pigm

ente

d lin

e. It

ha

s dr

oopi

ng le

af c

anop

y w

ith e

nclo

sed

inte

rnod

es,

sem

i-loo

se p

anic

le

com

pact

ness

, med

ium

bo

ld s

eed,

ligh

t cre

am

colo

red

and

roun

d se

ed.

90-9

5

6IM

S 9A

&B

2077

A

(M9B

x

Vidi

sha

60-1

) -11

-4-

2-5-

5

Indo

re10

50(E

), 26

/10/

1999

Tan

colo

ured

pla

nt, p

ale

gree

n,

droo

ping

, bro

ad a

nd lo

ng le

aves

, du

ll gr

een

leaf

mid

rib,

med

ium

th

ick

stem

, wel

l exs

erte

d an

d se

mi

com

pact

ear

hea

d, S

traw

pin

k gl

ume,

186

cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t, p

hoto

in

sens

itive

, fre

ely

thre

shab

le, p

artia

l se

nesc

ence

, rou

nd, m

ediu

m b

old,

pe

arly

whi

te s

eed,

cor

neou

s an

d w

hite

col

oure

d en

dosp

erm

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e, ta

n w

ith p

ale

gree

n,

narr

ow to

med

ium

bro

ad,

droo

ping

leav

es w

ith

dull

gree

n m

idri

b an

d le

af s

heat

h en

clos

ing

the

stem

. Ear

head

is m

ediu

m

to lo

ng, e

llipti

cal,

sem

i-co

mpa

ct, w

ell e

xert

ed

with

long

ped

uncl

e,

awne

d w

ith s

traw

pin

k gl

umes

cov

erin

g ab

out

1/3

grai

n an

d se

ed is

pe

arly

whi

te, r

ound

and

m

ediu

m b

old

100-

105


73

710

4A&

B29

6B x

Sw

atiA

kola

1(E)

, 01

/01/

1996

Tan

colo

ured

pla

nt, d

ark

gree

n an

d er

ect l

eave

s, w

hite

col

oure

d m

idri

b,

med

ium

thic

k st

em, e

xser

ted

boot

le

af to

uchi

ng b

ase

of e

ar h

ead,

se

mi c

ompa

ct a

nd c

ylin

dric

al

shap

e pa

nicl

e, b

row

n w

ith re

ddis

h ba

se c

olou

red

glum

e, p

lant

hei

ght

130

cm, a

wn

pres

ent,

bro

ad

leav

es, p

hoto

inse

nsiti

ve, g

ood

grai

n w

ither

ing

reac

tion,

par

tial

sene

scen

ce, b

old

and

roun

d se

ed,

yello

w a

nd c

orne

ous

endo

sper

m

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e,

non-

tan

with

gre

en s

emi

erec

t lea

ves,

cyl

indr

ical

se

mi-l

ax p

anic

les

109-

111

8PM

S 28

A&

B29

6B

x IC

SB

9404

B

Parb

ani

1108

(E),

08/0

5/20

08Ta

n pl

ant,

gree

n le

af w

ith

med

ium

siz

e, th

ick

stem

, dw

arf

plan

t,co

mpa

ct a

nd lo

ng e

ar

head

,glu

m s

traw

col

oure

d an

d sh

ort.

Pear

ly,m

ediu

m s

ize

alm

ond

shea

pe s

eed.

Plan

t hei

ght 1

45 c

m, t

an

plan

t col

or, e

rect

, non

-til

leri

ng p

lant

type

, gre

en

leaf

col

or, d

war

f pla

nt

appe

aran

ce, w

hite

leaf

m

idri

b co

lor,

thic

k st

em

thic

knes

s, c

ompa

ct &

long

ea

r he

ad c

ompa

ctne

ss &

sh

ape,

str

aw ¼

cov

ered

gl

umes

col

or a

nd s

ize,

pe

arly

whi

te c

aryo

psis

co

lor,

med

ium

alm

ond

seed

siz

e an

d sh

ape,

day

s to

flow

erin

g in

76

days

, da

ys to

mat

urity

in 1

08

days

108

927

9A&

B42

2B x

IS

3046

9

DSR

, H

yder

abad

312(

E),

01/0

2/20

13Pl

ant h

eigh

t 137

cm

, ear

ly 5

0%

flow

erin

g (6

4-65

day

s), s

ymm

etri

c pa

nicl

e sh

ape,

yel

low

whi

te

cary

opsi

s co

lour

, Lem

ma

aris

ta

form

ation

is a

bsen

t with

no

stigm

a ye

llow

col

oura

tion

and

anth

ocya

nin

colo

urati

on. I

t has

gra

yed

oran

ge

glum

e co

lour

and

bol

d el

liptic

al

grai

ns.

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e,

tan

plan

t, 6

4-66

day

s to

50

% fl

ower

ing

(kha

rif)

, en

clos

ed in

tern

ode,

da

rk g

reen

leaf

col

our,

dull

gree

n m

idri

b co

lour

, er

ecto

phyl

l can

opy,

fr

ee p

anic

le e

xerti

on,

sym

met

ric

pani

lce

shap

e,

109

S.N

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erN

otific

ation

/N

umbe

r/Da

te

Desc

riptio

n of

var

iety

/Hyb

ridId

entifi

ble

Disti

ngus

hing

m

orph

olog

ical

Cha

ract

ers

No

of d

ays

to m

atur

ity

74


sem

i com

pact

pan

icle

co

mpa

ctne

ss, s

mal

l siz

e pa

nicl

e, p

urpl

e gl

ume

colo

ur, 5

0% g

lum

e co

veri

ng, f

ree

thre

shin

g,

bold

see

d si

ze, w

hite

see

d co

lour

, rou

nd e

llipti

cal

seed

sha

pe

1041

5A&

BA

KMS

14B

x IS

250

17D

SR,

Hyd

erab

ad95

2(E)

, 10

/04/

2013

Plan

t hei

ght 1

36 c

m in

rabi

, ea

rly

50%

flow

erin

g (6

4 da

ys),

sym

met

ric

pani

cle

shap

e, y

ello

w

oran

ge c

aryo

psis

col

our,

Lem

ma

aris

ta fo

rmati

on is

abs

ent w

ith

med

ium

stig

ma

leng

th. I

t has

free

th

resh

abili

ty w

ith s

light

ly e

llipti

cal

grai

ns

Mal

e st

erile

par

enta

l lin

e, ta

n pl

ant,

64

days

to

50%

flow

erin

g (k

hari

f),

encl

osed

inte

rnod

e,

light

gre

en le

af c

olou

r, du

ll gr

een

mid

rib

colo

ur,

droo

ping

can

opy,

fr

ee p

anic

le e

xerti

on,

sym

met

ric

pani

lce

shap

e,

sem

i loo

se p

anic

le

com

pact

ness

, sm

all

size

pan

icle

, lig

ht re

d gl

ume

colo

ur, 2

5% g

lum

e co

veri

ng, f

ree

thre

shin

g,

bold

see

d si

ze, w

hite

see

d co

lour

, rou

nd e

llipti

cal

seed

sha

pe

104

S.N

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erN

otific

ation

/N

umbe

r/Da

te

Desc

riptio

n of

var

iety

/Hyb

ridId

entifi

ble

Disti

ngus

hing

m

orph

olog

ical

Cha

ract

ers

No

of d

ays

to m

atur

ity


75

Tabl

e 13

: Ped

igre

e an

d or

igin

of n

ation

ally

rele

ased

sorg

hum

R li

nes

S.N

oN

ame

of

Culti

var

Pedi

gree

/Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erN

otific

ation

/N

umbe

r/Da

teDe

scrip

tion

of v

arie

ty/H

ybrid

No

Of

Days

To

mat

urity

CS 3

541

IS 3

675

x IS

35

41N

RCS

19(E

), 14

/01/

1982

Tan

colo

ured

pla

nt, l

ight

gre

en c

olou

red

and

sem

i ere

ct le

aves

, med

ium

th

ick

stem

, exs

erte

d, c

ompa

ct a

nd s

light

ly b

road

at b

ase

of p

anic

le,

135-

150

cm p

lant

hei

ght,

pho

to in

sens

itive

, fre

ely

thre

shab

le, s

traw

co

lour

ed g

lum

e, w

hite

elli

ptic

plum

p an

d sm

all s

ize

seed

, cor

neou

s an

d w

hite

col

oure

d en

dosp

erm

100-

105

1RS

29

SPV

126

x SC

10

8N

RCS

527(

E),

17/0

8/19

91

Tan

plan

t, g

reen

col

our

and

droo

ping

leav

es, d

ull g

reen

mid

rib,

med

ium

st

em th

ickn

ess,

wel

l exs

erte

d, s

emi c

ompa

ct a

nd c

onic

le s

hape

ear

he

ad, g

lum

e co

lour

str

aw to

red,

150

-180

cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t, m

oder

ate

phot

o se

nsiti

ve, s

hort

leng

th a

nd c

olou

red

stigm

a, a

wns

abs

ent,

cr

eam

y, ro

und

and

med

ium

siz

e se

ed, e

ndos

perm

ligh

t yel

low

and

co

rneo

us

103-

108

2RS

585

(CS

3541

x M

35-

1) x

Nan

dyal

ra

bi lo

cal

NRC

S an

d M

PKV

1(E)

, 01

/01/

1996

Purp

le p

lant

, gre

en a

nd d

roop

ing

leav

es, d

ull g

reen

mid

rib,

thin

ste

m,

sem

i com

pact

and

con

icle

sha

pe p

anic

le, 1

67 c

m p

lant

hei

ght,

aw

ns

pres

ent,

str

aw c

olou

red

and

med

ium

leng

th g

lum

e, p

hoto

inse

nsiti

ve,

pear

ly w

hite

, rou

nd, b

old

and

lust

rous

see

d, c

orne

ous

and

light

yel

low

en

dosp

erm

102

3RS

627

RS 7

1 x

M35

-1N

RCS

1566

(E),

05/1

1/20

05Ta

n pl

ant,

enc

lose

d in

ter

node

, gre

en c

olou

red

droo

ping

leaf

with

dul

l m

idri

b,el

liptic

al a

nd s

emi-c

ompa

ct p

anic

le, g

lum

e st

raw

and

sho

rt,

free

ly th

resh

able

, med

ium

siz

e ro

und

and

whi

te s

eed

102-

105

4RS

673

SPV

544

X K2

4-1

NRC

S42

5(E)

08

/06/

1999

Ta

n co

lour

ed p

lant

, gre

en c

olou

red

and

droo

ping

leav

es, w

hite

leaf

m

idri

b, m

ediu

m th

ick

stem

, wel

l exs

erte

d ea

r he

ad ,

sem

i com

pact

an

d co

nicl

e sh

ape

pani

cle,

str

aw c

olou

red

glum

e, c

olou

rles

s an

d m

ediu

m s

ize

stigm

a, 1

76 c

m p

lant

hei

ght,

pho

to in

sens

itive

and

par

tial

thre

shab

le g

rain

, aw

n ab

sent

, whi

te, r

ound

, lus

trou

s an

d m

ediu

m b

old

seed

, cor

neou

s en

dosp

erm

102-

105

5A

KR

150

CS 3

541

x 90

0A

kola

386(

E),

15/0

5/19

90Ta

n pl

ant,

dar

k gr

een

colo

ur a

nd d

roop

ing

leav

es, d

ull g

reen

mid

rib,

le

af s

heat

h an

d m

argi

n vi

olet

col

oure

d, th

ick

stem

, exs

erte

d, s

emi

com

pact

and

con

icle

sha

pe e

ar h

ead,

glu

me

colo

ur s

traw

and

1/3

red

cove

red,

140

-150

cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t, p

hoto

inse

nsiti

ve, c

olou

red

and

med

ium

siz

e sti

gma,

sho

rt le

ngth

glu

me,

aw

ns a

bsen

t, w

hite

, rou

nd

and

med

ium

siz

e se

ed, e

ndos

perm

ligh

t yel

low

and

cor

neou

s

95-1

00

76

Millet Seed TechnologyS.

No

Nam

e of

Cu

ltiva

r

Pedi

gree

/Pa

rent

age

Devo

lopi

ng

Cent

erN

otific

ation

/N

umbe

r/Da

teDe

scrip

tion

of v

arie

ty/H

ybrid

No

Of

Days

To

mat

urity

6A

KR

354

[(SP

V 50

4(20

KR)

x SP

V 50

4 x

R 26

3)] x

R 6

7-4

Ako

la82

1(E)

, 13

/09/

2000

Tan

plan

t, d

ark

gree

n an

d dr

oopi

ng le

aves

, wel

l exs

erte

d, s

emi c

ompa

ct

ear

head

, 18

0-19

0 cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t, fr

eely

thre

shab

le, p

earl

y, n

on

lust

rous

and

med

ium

sm

all s

ize

seed

, lig

ht y

ello

w, c

orne

ous

endo

sper

m11

1-11

57

C 43

CS 3

541

x IS

23

549

NRC

S64

7(E)

, 09

/09/

1997

Ta

n co

lour

ed p

lant

, gre

en c

olou

red

and

sem

i ere

ct le

aves

, dul

l gre

en

leaf

mid

rib,

thic

k st

em, t

ouch

ing

ear

head

exe

rtion

, com

pact

and

co

nicl

e sh

ape

pani

cle,

ligh

t red

col

oure

d gl

ume,

col

oure

d an

d m

ediu

m

size

stig

ma,

140

-145

cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t, p

hoto

inse

nsiti

ve a

nd fr

eely

th

resh

able

gra

in, a

wn

abse

nt, w

hite

, rou

nd, l

ustr

ous

and

bol

d se

ed,

corn

eous

end

ospe

rm

97-1

00

8In

dore

12

(SSV

53

x SP

V 47

5)-7

-1-1

-1In

dore

10

50(E

), 26

/10/

1999

Tan

colo

ured

pla

nt, d

ark

gree

n co

lour

ed a

nd s

emi e

rect

leav

es, d

ull

gree

n le

af m

idri

b, th

ick

stem

, exe

rtion

just

nec

k, s

emi c

ompa

ct a

nd

sym

met

ric

shap

e pa

nicl

e, s

hort

leng

th a

nd p

ink

colo

ured

glu

me,

co

lour

less

stig

ma,

158

cm

pla

nt h

eigh

t, p

hoto

inse

nsiti

ve a

nd p

artia

l th

resh

able

gra

in, a

wn

abse

nt, w

hite

, rou

nd, l

ustr

ous

and

med

ium

bol

d se

ed, c

orne

ous

endo

sper

m

107-

110

9U

PMC

503

SDSL

921

40-

MCT

-36-

93 (S

el

from

Zim

babw

e ge

rm.)

Pant

naga

r11

72(E

), 25

/08/

2005

Tan

plan

t ,er

ect a

nd d

ark

gree

n le

aves

,tille

ring

,fas

t gro

wth

with

re

genr

ation

abi

lity,

med

ium

thic

k w

ell e

xser

ted,

sem

i-com

pact

and

sy

mm

etri

c ea

rhea

d w

ith li

ght b

row

n gl

ume.

See

d sm

all a

nd e

llipti

c ,7

5% c

orni

ous

with

whi

te e

ndos

perm

par

tly th

resh

able

105-

110

10CB

11

SPV

1023

x C

43

DSR

, H

yder

abad

312(

E),

01/0

2/20

13

Tan

plan

t, 6

5-68

day

s to

50%

flow

erin

g (k

hari

f), e

nclo

sed

inte

rnod

e,

gree

n le

af c

olou

r, du

ll gr

een

mid

rib

colo

ur, d

roop

ing

cano

py, f

ree

pani

cle

exer

tion,

sym

met

ric

pani

lce

shap

e, s

emi c

ompa

ct p

anic

le

com

pact

ness

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77

Pearl Millet

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a major warm season coarse grain cereal grown on 26 million ha

in some of the harshest semi-arid tropical environments of Asia and Africa. India has the largest area (9–10 million ha) under this crop, ranking it third along with sorghum. It is cultivated in the most sandy, infertile soils and droughty environments (eg, arid Rajasthan) where no other cereal crop can survive. Even under these conditions, pearl millet yields 300–400 kg ha-1 of grain. Pearl millet hybrids maturing in 80–85 days, when

cultivated as an irrigated summer season crop in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh states of India, have been reported to give as high as 4000–5000 kg ha-1 of grain yield. Pearl millet grains have high protein content, balanced amino acid profile, and high levels of iron, zinc, and insoluble dietary fiber. Eggs produced from layers fed on a diet of pearl millet have much lower levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol) than those fed on a maize-based diet. These adaptive and nutritional features combined with high yield potential make pearl millet an important cereal crop that can effectively address the emerging challenges of global warming, water shortages, land degradation and food-related health issues.

OriginPearl millet originated in tropical western

Africa some 4000 years ago. The greatest numbers of both wild and cultivated forms of this species occur in this region. From there, it differentiated into globosum race and moved to the western side, and it also differentiated into the typhoides race that reached eastern Africa and spread to India and southern Africa some 2000–3000 years ago.

India is the largest producer of this crop, both in terms of area (9–10 million ha) and production (7.0–7.5 million t), with an average productivity of 780 kg ha-1 during 2000– 04. As compared to the early 1980s, pearl millet area in India declined by 26% during 2000–04, but production increased by 19% owing to 44% increase in productivity.

AdaptationPearl millet can grow in a wide range of

ecological conditions and yield reasonably well even under unfavorable conditions of drought stress and high temperatures. It is mostly grown in countries with hot and dry weather, quite characteristic of the arid and semi-arid environments. Pearl millet grows on soils that are too sandy and light textured, too arid, too dry and too infertile for other cereals. It played a significant role in food security and preferred by resource poor farmers of dry regions for its better nutritional value.

BotanySeed production procedure in crop species

depends on its mode of pollination which corresponds to its floral biology. The salient

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features of floral biology and mode of pollination in pearl millet are given briefly as under:

Pearl millet inflorescence is a compound terminal spike or panicle. It consists of a central rachis. It bears fascicles on rachillae, arranged in a spiral form. Each fascicle contains 1-2 spikelets surrounded by a whorl of bristles (i.e. involucre). A spikelet consists of two glumes and two florets. The lower floret is staminate and the upper hermaphrodite. The ovary is free and exposed and monocarpellary. The styles are free or adnate at base and bifid, terminating in brust-like stigmas. There are three stamens with penicillate and versatile anthers.

Pearl millet is a protogynous species. The styles start protruding two to three days after the emergence of the panicle. The stylar branches protrude first from the florets in the upper middle region of the panicle and then proceed both upwards and downwards. In the hermaphrodite flowers, the stigmas emerge faster than the anthers and hence stigmas receive pollen from infloresence of other plants. The time required for complete stigma emergence varies from 2 to 3 days, depending on the environmental conditions. The two stigmas separate and diverge only after complete exertion of the styles. They remain fresh and receptive for two to three days, depending upon environment. The sequence of flowering practically excludes self-pollination in the same inflorescence, but it may occur between the inflorescences of the same plant.

By the time anther emergence commences, all stigmas will have emerged, and been pollinated, which avoids selfing under open-pollination conditions. The emergence of the first anther usually begins about three to four days after the first stigma has emerged. Protogyny and the time lag between stigma emergence and anther dehiscence favours cross-pollination, but asynchronous flowering of tillers prevents its full realization. The protogyny in the pearl millet is exploited for controlled cross pollination without resorting to emasculation. The inflorescence to be used as a female or male

is covered with the glassine paper bag before any stigma is visible. Generally the safest stage is when about one third of the inflorescence is out of the flag leaf sheath. When all stigmas have emerged, the panicle can be considered ready for cross pollination. If selfed seed of the male parent is not required, pollen from it can be collected by bagging even those inflorescences in which stigmas have completely emerged. Fresh pollen from dehiscing anthers, visible as yellow powder in the transparent selfing bags, is collected by tapping the bagged inflorescence. The pollination is carried out by quickly removing the bag from the female inflorescence, dusting the pollen collected from the male inflorescence, and then rebagging the pollinated inflorescence again.

Crop specific issuesProduction constraints: Cultivation of pearl

millet on marginal lands, and unreliable rainfall tend to keep the use of inputs such as fertilizers to a minimum. Crop losses also occur due to occurrence of downy mildew and bird damage.

Seed productionThe best season for seed production is October

- December. The temperature favourable for seed setting is 37°C. The pollination should not coincide with rains. Rain affects effective seed setting and production of quality seeds.

Crop improvement and varieties released

Open pollinated varieties (OPVs) and hybrids are developed in pearl millet. Seed of open- pollinated varieties may be utilized by farmers for 2-3 years. Hybrids are the result of two specific male (restorer line or R line) and female (male sterile line or A line) parents. Hybrid seed is produced and planted afresh every year.

The commercial end-products in pearl millet are OPVs and hybrids. Once the decision is taken to release a cultivar with specific characteristics and the OPV or hybrid is identified with a name,


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pearl millet breeders make a limited increase of seed of new varieties and hybrid parents. Seed

multiplication of any class depends upon the actual requirements and the buffer stock.

Hybrids and Varieties of pearl millet released in India

A. Hybrids

Hybrid Parentage Year of release

Area of adaptation Maturity duration and salient Features

KBH 108 (MH 1737)

KMPS-74A x KPR-9288R

2013 Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and MP

Late maturing, tall plant height, purple anther colour, cylindrical very compact ear heads, obovate grey seed, resistant to downy mildew, blast and smut

GHB-905 (MH-1655)

ICMA 04999 x J- 2454


Medium maturing, medium height, yellow anther colour, compact cylindrical earheads with bristles, resistant to downy mildew, globular grey brown seeds

Nandi-72 (MSH-238) (NMH 75)

NMS 31A x NMP 75

2013 Summer growing areas of Gujarat Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu

Medium tall plant height, purple coloured anthers lanceolate thick compact earheads, resistant to downy mildew, globular deep grey seed.

86M89 (MH 1747)

M163F x M164R


Late maturing, tall height, conical very compact earheads, yellow anther colour, resistant to downy mildew, obovate deep grey coloured seed

MPMH 17 (MH 1663)

ICMA 04999 x MIR 525-2


Medium maturing, medium height, yellow anther colour, compact lanceolate earheads with bristles, resistant to downy mildew, grey brown seeds

HHB 234 (MH 1561)

HMS 7A x H77/833-2- 202

2013 Western Rajasthan and drier part of Gujarat and Haryana

Early maturing, candle shaped earheads with small bristles, medium seed size and tolerant to downy mildew

Kaveri Super Boss (MH 1553)

KBMS 329 x KBR 621

2012 Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and MP Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Late maturing, tall height, long compact cylindrical earheads, purple anther colour, globular grey coloured seed

Bio 70 (MH 1632)

11A x R 207 2012 Western Rajasthan and drier part of Gujarat and Haryana

Early maturing, conical compact earheads, yellow anther colour, globular grey seed and tolerant to downy mildew

Bio 448 (MH 1671)

13A x R 210 2012 Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and MP

Late maturing, cylindrical compact earheads, yellow anther colour, globular grey seed and tolerant to downy mildew

Nandi-70 (MSH 224)

NMS 31A x NMP 55


Medium plant height, cylindrical thick compact earheads, globular deep grey seed.

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Pratap (MH 1642)

NB 101A x NB 152R

2012 Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Medium maturity, medium plant height, cylindrical semi compact earheads, globular grey seed.

PKV-Raj (BBH 3) BMS-5-23A x BR-333

2012 Maharashtra Medium maturing, Medium height, conical compact bristled earheads, grey coloured seed

MP-7872 (MH-1610)

M002A x M004R


Late maturing, medium height, yellow anther colour, spindle earheads, grey coloured globular seed

MP-7792 (MH-1609)

M001A x M004R


Late maturing, medium height, yellow anther colour, cylindrical earheads, grey coloured globular seed

86M86 (MH 1684)

M128F x M138R

2012 Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP, MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Late maturing, Medium to tall plant height, conical very compact earheads, purple anther colour, grey hexagonal seeds

CO 9 ICMA 93111 x PT 6029- 30

2012 Tamil Nadu Medium maturing, medium height, Candle compact earheads, greyish yellow seed colour

Shine (VBBH 3040) (MH 1578)

VBBA 310089 x VBBR 330585


Medium maturing, medium height, , red node pigmentation, yellow anther colour, compact spindle shaped earheads resistant to downy mildew, grey bold seeds

86M66 (MH 1617)

M124F x M118R


Late maturing, medium height, conical compact earheads, brownish yellow anthers, broad leaves, purple node colour, grey seed colour, resistant to downy mildew

PAC 909 (MH 1435)

110057 x 130453


Medium maturing, medium height, medium thick compact cylindrical earheads, light yellow coloured anthers, grey seed colour, resistant to downy mildew

HHB-226 (MH 1479)

ICMA 843- 22 x HBL-11


Medium maturing, medium height, dark green leaves, candle shaped bristled earheads, resistant to downy mildew

RHB-177 (MH-1486)

ICMA 843- 22 x RIB 494


Early maturing, medium tall, cylindrical bristled earheads, resistant to downy mildew, light yellow anthers

RHB-173 (MH-1446)

ICMA 93333 x RIB 192 S/99


Medium maturity, medium to tall plant height, compact cylindrical ear heads, resistant to downy mildew

86M64 (MH 1540)

M096F x M 117R


Late maturing, conical compact earheads, obovate light grey seeds, resistant to downy mildew

86M53 (MH 1541)

M096F x M 119R


Late maturing, conical compact earheads, obovate grey bold seeds, resistant to downy mildew


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86M64 (MSH 203)

M096F x M 117R


Late maturing, conical compact earheads, obovate light grey bold seeds, resistant to downy mildew

RHRBH 9808 RHRB 13A x RHRBI 1314

2010 Maharashtra Medium maturing, medium tall plant height, dark green leaves, cylindrical earheads, yellow anthers

Nandi 65 (MH 1549)

NMS 24A x NMP 75


Late maturing, cylindrical shaped non bristled compact ear heads, yellow anther colour, bold grains resistant to downy mildew

Nandi 61 (MH 1548)

NMS 24A x NMP 64


Late maturing, conical shaped non bristled compact earheads, bright yellow anther colour, bold grains resistant to downy mildew

HHB 223 (MH 1468)

ICMA 94555 x HBL 11


Medium maturing, conical earheads with long purple bristled , resistant to downy mildew, tolerant to drought

HHB 216 (MH 1421)

HMS 37A x HTP 3/13


Medium maturing, resistant to downy mildew, candle shaped medium long to togo earheads with brownish long bristled

Nandi 64 (MSH 199)

NMS 2-11A x NMP 4-1


Late maturity, conical shaped earheads, light purple anther colour, ,light reddish plant base, resistant to downy mildew

RHB 154 Western

ICMA 95444 x RIB 57 S/05

2009 Rajasthan and drier part of Gujarat and Haryana

Early maturing, medium tall, resistant to downy mildew, tolerant to lodging, light yellow anthers, cylindrical earhead

JKBH 676 JKMS 20A x JKR 6136


Late maturity, Medium tall plant height, highly compact earheads, stay green fodder

GK 1051 PM 678A-II x PM 1081 R-I


Medium maturity, medium tall, cylindrical shaped ear heads with pearly grey grain

B 2095 (MH 1257)

B 0009A x B 5220R

2009 Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, UP and MP

Medium maturity, medium tall, compact candle earheads, globular grey grains

PB 727 (Proagro 9555)

PSP 51 x PP 38

Summer growing areas of Gujarat Maharashtra, Rajasthan & Tamil Nadu

Late maturity, medium tall, compact cylindrical earheads with yellow anthers, obovate grey grains

PHB 2168 ICMA 92333 x PIB 686


Late maturity, medium tall, compact cylindrical shaped earheads with yellow anthers, obovate grey grains

HHB 197 ICMA 97111 x HBL 11


Early maturity, medium tall, dark green leaves, cylindrical medium Togo earheads with long bristles, highly resistant to down mildew disease

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GHB 732 ICMA 96222 x J 2340

2008 Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab,Delhi, UP and MP

Late maturity, medium tall, compact lanceolate earheads, purple anthers, globular grey brown bold grain

GHB 744 ICMA 98444 x J 2340


Medium maturity, medium tall, medium thick stem with basal pigmentation, compact cylindrical shaped earheads with yellow anthers, globular grey brown grains

GHB 757 ICMA 92777 x J 2467


Early maturity, medium tall, compact cylindrical shaped earheads with purple anthers, globular grey brown grains

GHB 719 ICMA 95222 x J 2454


70-75 days maturity, fully exerted conical shaped, compact and bristled earheads, globular, medium in size, grey coloured grains, tolerant to drought.

NMH 68 (Nandi 62)

ICMA 97444 x NMP 48

2007 Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Delhi, UP and MP

Late maturity, tall, pubescent nodes, compact cylindrical earheads that are slightly tapering towards apex, yellow anthers, globular grey grains

B 2301 B 0009A x B 5103R


Late maturity, medium tall, compact spindle shaped earheads, globular grey bold grains

B 67 Improved 843-22 x H77/833-2-202


Extra early maturity, highly resistant to moisture stresses, resistance to downey mildew The first commercial cultivars developed using marker-assisted selection in India.

GHB 538 94555A x J2340


Early maturity, highly resistant to moisture stresses, resistance to downey mildew and lodging

PB 180 PSP 41 x PP 29

2004 Summer cultivation areas of Rajasthan Haryana, UP, MP, Punjab and Delhi

85 days, tall, high tillering, pubescent green nodes, compact candle shaped earheads, yellow anthers, obovate dark grey grains Medium maturity, resistant ot downey mildew, smut, ergot.stay green fodder till harvest

GHB 577 JMS A 101 xJ 2405

2003 Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, MP, UP

80-85 days, medium thick stem with basal pigmentation, semi-compact cylindrical earheads with slightly incomplete exertion, globular grains

HHB 117 HMS 7 A x H77/29-2

Haryana 74 78 days, medium tall, yellow anthers, compact candleshaped medium thick earheads, obovate grey grains, possesses stay

HHB 146 95222 A xHTP 94/54


75-80 days, tall, violet nodes, hairy leaf sheath, long well-filled compact earheads, slow senescence

GHB 558 94555A xJ 2290

2002 All India 75-80 days, broad leaves, long thick conical earheads, yellow anthers, obovate dark grey bold grains


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7688 PH 03 xPH 05


78-80 days, hairy green internode, light purple anthers

PB 106 PSP 41 xPP 6

2001 All India 76-80 days, tall, basal pigmentation purple, purple anthers, conical semi-compact earheads with tan bristles

PB 112 PSP 35 xPP 1

2001 Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, MP, UP, Delhi

85-88 days, tall, good tillering, glabrous green nodes, compact conical earheads, yellow anthers, bold and globular grey grains

RHB 121 89111A xRIB 3135-18

2001 Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, MP, UP, Delhi

85 days, medium tall, compact thick earheads, yellow anthers, long purple bristles, globular grey brown grains

Pusa 605 841A xPPMI 69


74-80 days, medium tall, yellow anthers, compact cylindrical earheads, obovate grey grains

Nandi 32 NMS 7A xNMP 24

1999 Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, MP, UP, Punjab, Delhi

78 days, pink base of stems, long cylindrical earheads, medium sized grey grains

RHB 90 81A xRIB 3135-18

1999 Rajasthan 85 days, medium tall, yellow anthers, purple bristles, compact cylindrical earheads, obovate yellow brown grains

Nandi 8 NMS 5A xNMP 23

1998 Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, UP

80 days, long cylindrical earheads, medium sized cream yellow grains

Pusa 322 (MH 322)

841A xPPMI 301

1993 All India 80 days, medium tall, thick cylindrical semi-compact earheads with sterile tip, globular grey brown grains

ICMH 356 ICMA 88004xICMR 87003

1993 All India 75-80 days, medium tall, semi-compact thick conical earheads, yellow anthers, obovate dark grey grains

RHB 30 843A xRIB 335/74

1991 Rajasthan 75 days, medium tall, loose conical earheads, purple anthers, globular dark grey grains

RHB 58 81A xRIB 20K-86

1991 All India 85 days, medium tall, semi-conical compact earheads, purple anthers, obovate yellow brown grains

HHB 67 843A xH77/833-2

1990 All India 60-62 days, medium height, thin stem, medium narrow leaves, semi-compact spindle shape earheads, yellow anthers, grey globular grains, escapes drought and tolerates salt stress, fits well in inter- and multiple cropping

Pusa 23 (MH 169)

841A xD 23

1987 All India 82 days, medium tall, glabrous leaves, yellow anthers, compact cylindrical earheads, light grey grains

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B. Open pollinated varieties

Variety Year of release

Area of adaptation Maturity Duration andsalient features

ABPC-4-3(MP 484)

2012 Maharashtra Late maturing, medium plant height, lanceolateearheads, globular grey seeds

Mandor BajraComposite 2 (MBC 2) (MP 489)

2011 Rajasthan,Harayana,Gujarat

Early maturing, medium height, medium long semicompact cylindrical earheads, obvate grey coloured seed

Pusa Composite612 (MP 480)

2011 Maharashtra,Karnataka, AndhraPradesh, Tamil Nadu

Medium maturity, medium to tall plant height,compact cylindrical earheads

Pusa Composite443 (MP 443)

2009 Rajasthan, Harayana, Gujarat

Early maturity, medium tall, rod shaped earheadswith bold grain

PCB 164 2007 Punjab 85-88 days, dual purpose variety with broad leaves,thick stalks, cylindrical earheads, bred from seven elite population and 27diverse inbred lines

JBV 4 (MP 403)

2007 MP Mature in 75 days, medium tall, thickstemmed. Plants with many leaves, slate greyseeds.

PPC-6 (ParbhaniSampada)

2005 Maharashatra 75-80 days, medium tall, light pink nodes, boldgrains, bred from 8 inbredlines

CoCu 9 2005 Rainfed/ irrigatedconditions in Tamil Nadu

80-85 days, tall, semicompact to compact,candle/cylindrical shaped earheads, grey grains with yellow base.

CZP 9802 2002 Dry areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat & Haryana (zone A1)

70-75 days, good tillering, narrow leaves, thin candle shaped earheads, thin stem, yellowish grains of medium size, drought tolerant, very high stover of good quality

Pusa Composite 383

2001 Zone A 82 days, tall, thick stems and panicles, resistant to lodging and downy mildew

JBV 3 (GICKV 96752)

2000 Zone A 82 days, tall, yellow anthers, long compact cylindrical heads, obovate grey grains, developed from Cycle 3 of SRC II

Pusa Composite 334

1999 Zone A 75-80 days, tall, thick semi-compact cylindrical earheads, developed from selected lines and elite inbreds

JBV-2(GICKV 93191)

1999 Zone A 79 days, tall, compact-cylindrical earheads, yellow anthers, obovate brown grains, developed from Early Composite 91

Pusa Bajri 266 1996 Zone A 80 days, tall, thick semi -compact cylindrical earheads, yellow anthers, obovate grey brown grains

CZP-1C 923 1996 Zone A 72-80 days, thick stem, long oblanceolate thick panicles, light grey seed with yellow base, light yellow to brown anthers

ICMV 155 1991 All India 85-89 days, thick semi compact cylindrical earheads, yellow anthers, obovate grey grains, dual-purpose variety bred from 59 plants of NELC C4 selected at Patancheru


85

Raj 171(RCB-IC-9)

1990 All India 80-85 days, tall, medium thick stems, long thin semi compact earheads, obovate grey brown grains, resistant to downy mildew, bred from Intervarietal Composite

Raj BajraChari-2

1990 All India Suitable for green fodder, broad and succulent leaves, suitable for saline soils

Seed classesIn pearl millet, seed is multiplied in four stages

(nucleus, breeder, foundation and certified), called seed classes.

Nucleus seed: It is the first stage in the chain of seed multiplication of a released variety or hybrid parents. This fundamental stock of seed obtained from the selected individual plants of parental lines of a hybrid (A, B, R line) or an open - pollinated variety is the only seed that can be used to produce its own seed class. Nucleus seed should be of the highest genetic purity and the responsibility of it lies with the originating breeder.

Breeder seed: Breeder seed of a released OPV or hybrid parents is produced by or under the direct control of the sponsoring plant breeder. This class of seed is the base of the first and recurring increase of foundation seed and required to be inspected by a monitoring team consisting of a breeder, seed certification officer, representatives of National Seed Corporation (NSC) and State Seed Corporation (SSC).

Foundation seed: Foundation seeds of a released open-pollinated variety or hybrid parents are produced from breeder’s seed, the production of which is carefully supervised or approved by the breeder and seed certification agency at the experimental station or recognized seed farms. It is a source for certified seed class and should satisfy the minimum seed certification standards.

Certified seed: Certified seed of a released open-pollinated variety or hybrid is produced by registered seed producers, duly certified by seed certification agency and produced on a large scale for general farm scale.

Seed production guidelinesA. Nucleus seed productionNucleus seed refers to the seed produced by

breeder who developed the particular variety or by any other breeder of the institution where the variety was developed which is directly used for multiplication as breeder seed.

Nucleus Seed is the first stage in the chain of seed multiplication of a released variety or hybrid parents and is the only seed that can be used to produce its own seed class. To start nucleus seed programme of a variety, seed of base source (seed maintained by breeder) is a prerequisite. It is advisable to produce nucleus seed during off season or under rigorous selfing to ensure genetic purity and homogeneity. The purity should be for all the characters associated with the identity of a variety or line.

The salient features of the procedure for the production of nucleus seed of OPVs, male sterile line, maintainer line and restorer line in pearl millet are described below:

1. Open –pollinated varietySeason I – Isolation Block• Base seed of open pollinated variety is grown

in an area of 0.1 to 0.2 ha maintaining strict isolation of at least 1000 m from any other plot of pearl millet or wild pearl millet. One third of the commercial plant population should be maintained keeping at least 3000 - 5000 plants.

• Carefully observe at critical stages (tillering, preflowering, flowering, dough stage and maturity) and select 500 to 1000 plants with characters identical / typical to the released variety.

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• Harvest and keep seed of each selected plant separately. Evaluate for seed characters.

• Keep half of the seed of each plant progeny as remnant seed.

Season II – Progeny evaluation• Plant unreplicated progeny rows along with

check rows (grown from the basic bulk seed of OPV) after every 15-20 rows.

• Compare progeny rows at critical stages and select 30 to 50% progenies confirming to the varietal characters.

• Bulk the remnant seed of selected progenies.

Season III – Nucleus seed nursery• From the bulked remnant seed grow nucleus

seed nursery in isolation (1000 m).• The harvested seed is bulked and can be divided

into five-six lots and kept under cold storage. • One of these lots can be used as base seed for

nucleus seed production when required and rest may be used for breeder seed production in subsequent years.

2. Hybrids: The nucleus seed production of hybrids essentially involves the seed production of their parental lines. In case of pearl millet, especially single cross hybrids are in vogue, thus an account of production of nucleus seed of single cross hybrids i.e. A line (Male Sterile), B line (Maintainer) and R line (Restorer) is given below:

(i) Maintainer line ( ‘B’ lines):Season I• Grow large number of plants of B line (0.05 ha.)

and select and self about 1000 plants at the time of flowering.

• Finally select about 200 selfed plants confirming to the characters of maintainer line.

Season II• Grow plant to row progeny of selfed plants in

two replications retaining remnant seed. • The progeny rows are studied for the diagnostic

characters and rows not confirming to the characteristics of the line are rejected.

• Identify the best progeny rows (25-30%).• Bulk the remnant seed of selected best lines.

Season III• Grow the bulk seed of remnant seed in isolation.• Bulk the seed of all the plants after the harvest.• This forms the nucleus seed bulk of B line.

(ii) MS A line (‘A’ lines): Season IV• Grow A and B lines in alternate rows. Seeds of

B line will be those obtained from rejuvenation as given in the maintenance of B lines.

• Make 200 – 250 paired crosses between A and B plants.

• Care is taken to cross A and B plants confirming to the line standards only.

• Paired crosses among A and B lines should be labeled viz. A1 × B1, A2 × B2 etc. and harvested seed of each pair should be kept separately.

Season V• Grow the pairs, respective A line (crossed seed)

and B line (selfed seed) in alternate rows.• Retain a portion of seed as remnant seed.• Observe critically pairs of A and B lines for all

the characters including height, flowering and typical morphological characters.

• Observe for pollen shedders in A lines. The A line progenies showing pollen shedders and corresponding B lines should also be rejected.

• Identify uniform pairs of A and B lines which confirm to the standards of parental lines.

• Remnant seed of the A lines of the selected pure pairs is bulked. This forms nucleus seed bulk of A line.

(iii) Restorer line ( ‘R’ lines):Season I• Grow large number of plants of R line (0.05

ha.). Self a number of plants (about 1000) confirming to the standards of line at the time


87

of flowering. • Finally select about 200 selfed plants based on

field studies as well as observation in laboratory for seed colour, shape etc.

Season II• Grow plant to row progeny of selfed plants in

two replications. • Retain a portion of selfed seed of each plant as

remnant seed. • The progeny rows are studied for the qualitative

(diagnostic) characters. The lines not confirming to the characteristics of the line are rejected.

• Evaluate the lines for yield and agronomic score for other economic characters.

• Identify the best progeny rows (30 to 50%) based on all characteristics mentioned above. In the progeny row testing if adequate number of progeny rows confirming to the line standards are not obtained, selfing for one or more generations will be required. These selfed plants of R line should also be tested for their restoration ability.

• Bulk the remnant seed of best lines.

Season III• Grow the bulk seed of remnant seed in isolation.• Bulk the seed of all the plants after the harvest.• This forms the nucleus seed bulk of R line.

B. Breeder/ Foundation seed productionBreeder seed is produced from nucleus seed

stock while foundation seed is produced from breeder seed as per detail is given in seed class. The minimum isolation distance is 1000 m for breeder/ foundation seed of A ,B, R lines and OPVs.

1. Male Sterile (A) line and maintainer (B) line• Multiply ‘A’ lines by planting A and B lines in

alternate set usually in the ratio of 4:2. • Plant 4-8 border rows of B line around

production block to insure adequate pollen supplied to A line.

• Careful and strict rouging is a necessity in A and B lines. Rogue out pollen shedders in the A lines, if any.

• Harvest B-line rows immediately after completion of flowering period.

• Carefully harvest the A line rows and bulk the seed.

• Separate breeder seed production plot should be raised under isolation for nucleus seed stock as base material.

• For breeder seed production of B lines raise separate production plot of 0.1 ha area under isolation (1000 m) as bulk planting from nucleus seed stock.

• Follow rouging and other procedures as detailed in nucleus seed production method.

2. Restorer (R) line and OPV• Breeder / foundation seed production of R

lines and OPVs is done by bulk planting under isolation from the nucleus seed stock.

• Seed plots should be 0.1 – 0.2 ha for R lines/OPVs and at least 3000 – 5000 plants should be maintained.

• Crop is observed at following different stages of growth to identify deviants for different characters:

Stage of crop Charaters specifically observed18 Days After Sowing (DAS)

Identify deviants for early vigour

30-35 DAS Identify deviants for tillering, plant height and other traits

Boot leaf stage Identify deviants based on early flowering

50% flowering Identify deviants for late flowering, panicle exertion & panicle type

Maturity stage Identify deviants for seed type and grain Yield

• Identified off type plants should be removed

by uprooting as cutting of plants may lead to ratoon tillers.

• Select 500 – 1000 panicles (depending on the

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requirement) from the bulk planting.• Harvest and bulk the seed.• After harvest, the seed be dried, processed and

stored in safe containers.

C. Certified seedCertified seed of OPV and hybrid is produced

in pearl millet. The stipulated isolation distance for certified seed production, both for hybrids and OPVs is 200 m. The pattern of planting and production of OPVs is the same as for the breeder and foundation seed production. Production must be acceptable to seed certifying agency and fulfill all requirements of certification.

Certified seed is generally arranged through contract growers. Some private seed companies also undertake certified seed production programmes. The certified seed of a hybrid is produced by growing male sterile line with a specified restorers line in an isolated field.

Synchronisation of A and R line is crucial for certified hybrid seed production. This can be mainpulated by (1) differential dates of sowing (2) manipulating of water and fertilizer to one of the hybrid parents and (3) removal of extra early tillers in A or R line to synchronise the ability of pollen shedding and stigma receptivity.

Off-type plants in R line and pollen shedders in A line should be roughed out carefully to maintain genetic purity. A satisfactory certified seed production can be achieved if seed village concept is followed.

Field standardsBajra is a highly cross-pollinated crop with

80% of cross-pollination. The crop should be raised in isolation and seeds should be allowed to set by open-pollination. The isolation distance maintained between the varieties is 400 metres for foundation seed and 200 metres for certified seed production.

Seed standardsThe percentage of minimum physical purity of

certified and foundation seeds should be 98% with

a minimum of 80% of germination capacity and 5 - 12% of moisture content. The presence of inert matter should not exceed 2.0%.

Seed agronomy & crop managementIn order to obtain high quality seed with good

physical appearance, uniformity, large grain size and high germination per cent, proper agronomical practices should be adopted.

Land selectionThe selected land should be fertile and free from

volunteer plants. The land should not be cultivated with the same crop in the previous season. If cultivated, it should be of same variety and duly certified by the seed certification agency.

Seed production plots require extra care. The area chosen should be uniform, well levelled, free from diseases inoculum, weeds and cross compatible wild species of pearl millet. Avoid areas where rain occurs during seed development stages. A few rains, or even continuous high humidity during seed ripening period may cause mould development, or even seed germinate on panicles, discolouring them and substantially reducing germination and storage life. The land on which pearl millet crop was grown in the previous season should be avoided to minimize the problems of volunteers.

Land should be well prepared (15-20 cm deep) for seed production plots. It is advisable to plant seed on ridges at a distance of 45 to 60 cm. Planting is done by drilling, dibbling or transplanting. Drilling places the seed at a uniform distance and depth, enabling uniform plant stand. Further, large areas can be quickly planted by using a precession fertilizers-cum-seed drill mounted on a tractor or drawn by bullocks. Dibbling is a common practice where labour is cheap and fields are small. Transplanting is done practically in all the southern states to save valuable seed material. About 0.03 hectare nursery is enough to provide seedlings for one hectare. It reduces the life span of the field crop by 18-21 days. Transplanting also enables easy adjustment of staggered plantings.


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Seed selection and sowingSeeds used for seed production should be of

good quality certified seeds from an authentic source. Seeds should be healthy with good germination percentage. Use only graded seeds. Remove theseeds affected with Ergot and Sclerotia to prevent primary infection. Seed rate is 3 kg/acre (8 kg/ha). Add the selected seeds to the salt water (1 kg salt in 10 litres of water) and remove the floating seeds affected by Ergot and Sclerotia.

Wash the seeds in fresh water for 2 – 3 times to remove the salt and shade dry. Selected seeds should be treated with Azospirillum @ 250 gms /3 kg of seeds (600 gms / 8 kg of seeds). Seeds can be sown directly in the main field in ridges and furrows or seedlings can be raised in the nursery and transplanted to the main field.

Nursery preparation and sowingSeeds are sown in the nursery and then the

seedlings are transferred to the main field. Select an area of 7.5 cents for raising nursery for one hectare (3 cents for one acre). Plough the plot thoroughly and add farmyard manure or compost @ 750 kg / 7.5 cents (300 kg / 3 cents) and incorporate it into the soil by ploughing. Seeds are sown in raised bed nursery in lines. Cover the seeds with farmyard manure @ 500 kg / 7.5 cents (200 kg / 3 cents). 20 – 25 days old seedlings are then transplanted to the main field. The spacing between the plants should be 45 x 20 cm.

Main field preparationThe main field is prepared with series ploughing

to make it a fine tilth (Tilth is the physical condition of the soil that is soft, friable and properly aerated) and formed into ridges and furrows. Apply compost or farmyard manure @ 5 tonnes/acre (12.5 tonnes/ha). Seedlings can be transplanted from the nursery or from the directly sown hill. The extra seedlings from each hill should be pulled out at 20 – 25 days after sowing and transplanted.

To ensure optimum plant populations (120,000

plants) in a hectare, with 45 cm between rows and 12 cm between plants, 4 kg seed is required for the multiplication of restorer lines and OPVs while 3 kg of A line and 1 kg of B line or R line are needed for the multiplication of A line or hybrid respectively.

Nutrient managementBefore final ploughing compost or farmyard

manure @ 5 tonnes/acre (12.5 tonnes/ha) should be applied and ploughed into the soil. Instead of this cattle penning can also be practiced. 50 kg neem cake and 500 kg vermicompost per acre (125 kg neem cake and 1250 kg vermicompost per hectare) should be applied as basal manure.

After first weeding at 20 – 25 days after sowing first top dressing should be done using enriched vermicompost (2 kg Azospirillum, 2 kg Phosphobacterium and 2 litres Panchagavya mixed with 250 kg vermicompost and kept covered for a week and then used) @ 250 kg/ acre (600 kg/ha) followed by the second top dressing at 40 – 45 days after sowing using 25 kg neem cake and 250 kg vermicompost per acre (60 kg neem cake and 600 kg vermicompost per hectare). During flower initiation stage 10% tender coconut solution (1 litre tender coconut water + 9 litres of water) should be sprayed.

For rainfed crop, 50 kg pungam cake and 250 kg vermicompost should be applied as basal manure just before sowing. First top dressing should be done at 20 – 25 days after sowing using 250 kg/acre of enriched vermicompost. At 40 – 45 days after sowing apply 25 kg pungam cake and 250 kg vermicompost per acre (60 kg pungam cake and 600 kg vermicompost per hectare) as second top dressing. Spray 10% tender coconut water at the time of flower initiation. All the above mentioned inputs should be applied to the rainfed crop only when the soil is wet.

Manure and fertilizer requirements include 8-10 tons of farmyard manure or compost, 100 kg N, 60

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kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O per hectare. Fertilizer doses may split into two; a basal dose of 40 kg N and all P2O5 and K2O at the time of planting and topdressing of nitrogen in two equal splits at tillering and panicle emergence may be practiced.

IrrigationThe field should be irrigated soon after sowing

and life irrigation is done on the third day of sowing. Irrigation should be done once in 10 days. Irrigation during tillering, milky stage and maturation stage are very critical. Proper irrigation during critical stages increases the seed setting and quality of the seeds.

Water is an essential input to ensure good seed yield. The most critical stages to irrigate pearl millet seed crop are tillering, flowering and seed development. Moisture stress at any of these stages reduces seed yield considerably. Efficient drainage in seed field is also essential as pearl millet is susceptible to water logging particularly in the early stages of crop growth.

Weed managementThe seed production field should be maintained

weed free from the initial stage. The first weeding should be done at 30 – 35 days after sowing. Subsequent weeding can be done depending upon the intensity of the weeds.

Weeds claim major share of soil moisture and nutrients, and reduce yield of seed crop. They may act alternate hosts for various diseases and pests, and also create problems during harvesting and threshing. These may be checked through two inter cultures at an interval of 20 days in the early stage of crop growth or use of herbicides greatly reduces losses due to weed competition.

JerkingJerking is a process of removing the early

formed earheads of the first formed tillers to facilitate uniform flowering in all the tillers. It is done at 20 – 25 days after transplanting or 30 – 40 days after sowing.

RoguingIntensive roguing should be done at three growth

stages like seedling, tillering and seed setting. To maintain genetic purity of the crop, off-types and diseased plants are rogued out periodically based on the colour and waviness of leaves, plant height, shape and size of the earhead and colour of the grains etc. The rogues should be either pulled out as a whole plant or cut off at the base. Plants affected by green ear, ergot and grain smut diseases should be removed and discarded from time to time.

Field inspectionA minimum of three field inspections should be

conducted between pre flowering and harvesting stages by the Seed Certification Officer. First inspection is done before flowering to check isolation, volunteer plants, off-types, downy mildew etc. The second inspection would be made during 50% flowering to determine relevant factors. The final inspection would be made at the maturity stage before harvesting to determine the true nature of the crop and other relevant factors.

Maximum percentage of off-types permitted at the final inspection is 0.050% for foundation seed production and 0.10% for certified seed production.

HarvestingSeeds attain physiological maturation 30 –

35 days after 50% flowering. The physiological maturation can be identified by change in the colour of the seeds from green to straw yellow. A sunken layer also forms at the point of attachment to the panicle. The moisture content of the seeds at this stage is 30 – 35%. Harvesting is done in two pickings since, the maturation of the earheads are not uniform because of the tillering habit of the crop.

Pearl millet should be harvested as early as possible to minimize losses due to birds and bad weather. At moisture levels higher than 25%, the seeds are too soft to withstand the threshing pressure. The ideal moisture content for harvesting


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grain pearl millet is below 20%.In a seed crop, harvesting may be influenced

the physical quality of the seed, processing requirements, storability and seedling vigour. If the panicles can be artificially dried and threshed mechanically, then harvesting can safely be done when the seed attained physiological maturity (25% moisture content).

Threshing and processingHarvested earheads should be dried for two to

three days to attain a safe moisture content of 15 - 18% for threshing. Threshing is carried out either manually or mechanically. Normally the dried earheads are threshed by beating with a bamboo stick. Threshed grains are cleaned by winnowing. Threshed and cleaned grains are graded using round perforated metal sieve of 4/64” size OSAW cleaner cum grader.

Drying and storageThe cleaned and graded seeds can be stored

upto 12 months with proper pre-storage treatment.The panicles should be dried to 12% moisture

content. Proper care must be taken in harvesting particularly of hybrids and A/B lines multiplication to avoid mechanical mixture from logged plants. Care must also be taken during threshing operations. Proper handling of all class of seed in post-harvest operations should be of great help not only to maintain seed quantity but also prevent post-harvest losses in seed quality. Threshing of nucleus/breeder seed should be done by small size

seed thresher. These threshers should be thoroughly cleaned. After threshing, seed should be dried and kept in sealed containers.

Crop diseases and pests managementPearl millet is a high cash value seed crop. It

is therefore, essential to control disease and pests which are likely to reduce the seed yield and quality. Cultural control methods like clean cultivation, planting date adjustment, and uprooting of disease affected plants can substantially reduce the damage and minimize seed yield losses. Sometimes, diseases and pests attack may be controlled through chemicals. Pearl millet is affected by pests like shoot fly, root grub and diseases like downy mildew and ergot at different growth stages.

Downy mildew : Ridomil 25 WP ( 1000 ppm ) 20 DAS; Use more than one hybrid/improved variety in the same year or rotate hybrids/improved varieties in alternate years to check the spread of downy mildew.

Shoot fly : Early planting with the onset of monsoon has effectively controlled shoot fly incidence and two dusting of malathion 5% dust @ 25 kg/ha at 10 and 20 DAG or two sprays of neem oil (with 4 gm soap/lit of water) 0.05 % or two sprayings of endosulfan 0.07 % at 10 and 20 DAG

IPM Module for managing pest complex :Seed treatment with Imidacloprid 70 WS @ 3 g/kg seed + 5 % neem oil spray at 30 DAG + endosulfan 4 % / endosulfan 0 . 07 % spray at 50 % flowering Follow 2 : 1 pearl millet + red gram/horse gram intercroppingsystem

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Finger millet is an annual robust grass, mainly grown as a grain cereal in the semi-arid tropics

and subtropics of the world under rainfed conditions. It is a staple food crop in the drought prone areas in the world, and is considered as an important component of food security. Finger millet grain can be stored for years without storage pests, which makes it a perfect food grain commodity for famine-prone areas. While grains are used for human consumption, the crop residues are excellent source of dry matter for livestock especially in

dry season. Finger millet straw makes good fodder and contains up to 61% total digestible nutrients.

OriginFinger millet is believed to have been

domesticated in the highlands of East Africa about 3000 B.C., and in the same period it was introduced in India; origins for the crop can therefore be linked to Africa and India.

Finger millet was domesticated in the East African highlands. Cultivation of finger millet spread across the eastern and southern African savanna during the expansion of iron working technology, to eventually reach South Africa some 800 years ago. Finger millet reached India 2000–3000 years ago. From India it spread across South-East Asia to China and Japan. In the United States it is grown on a small scale for bird-seed.

AdaptationAmong millet crops, finger millet figures

prominently; it ranks fourth in importance after sorghum, pearl millet and foxtail millet. Finger millet cultivation is more widespread in terms of its geographical adaptation compared to other millets. It has the ability to withstand varied conditions of heat, drought, humidity and tropical weather. It is an important staple in many parts of eastern and southern Africa, as well as in South Asia. The

crop is productive in a wide range of environments and growing conditions, from southern Karnataka state in India to the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal, and throughout the middle-elevation areas of Eastern and Southern Africa.

BotanyMorphological description

Finger millet is a tufted annual crop, growing to a height of 30–150 cm and maturing in 75–160 days. Leaves are narrow, grass-like and capable of producing many tillers and nodal branches. The panicle consists of a group of digitally arranged spikes often referred to as fingers. The spikelets are made up of 4–10 florets arranged serially on the finger. All florets are perfect flowers with the exception of the terminal ones which may sometimes be infertile. The grain is oblong to round and oval, reddish brown in colour with the grains’ surface finely corrugated. Typically a tropical, rainfed crop, it is one of the best suited for dry farming. Finger millet is very adaptable and thrives at higher elevations than most other tropical cereals.

Flowering and anthesisComplete emergence of inflorescence in finger

Finger Millet


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millet required about 10 days and flowering attains 7-8 days. The flower open between 1 to 5 AM and progress from top to bottom in a finger, however, in a spikelet the order is reversed and proceeds from bottom to top and bigger to smaller flower. The stigma is receptive for a very short period after its emergence from the glumes. The period of anthesis being very short, is conducive for self-pollination and cross pollination is very rare.

Crop specific issues

Seed productionThe best season for seed production is

December – January. Pollination should not coincide with rains for quality and effective seed setting. The temperature of 37°c is favourable for seed setting.

Crop improvement and varieties released List of varieties recently developed along with its characteristics

Variety Year of release

Maturity (Days)

Yield level Kg/ha

Area of Adaptation

GPU 66 2013 115-120 4000-4500 Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu, Uttrakhand Chattisgarh,

KMR 301 2009 120-125 3000-3500 KarnatakaVR 847 2009 110-115 3000-3500 Andhra Pradesh GPU 67 2009 115-120 4000 Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharastra, Tamil

Nadu and Uttarakhand.GPU 48 2005 100-105 3000-3500 KarnatakaTNAU 946 2004 105-115 2000-2500 Tamil naduVL 315 2004 105-115 2600-2800 Uttaranchal GPU 45 2001 104-109 2700-2900 Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,

MaharashtraChilika (OEB 10) 2001 120-125 2600-2700 Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh

and Tamil NaduGPU 26 2000 100-105 3000-3500 Karnataka BM 9-1 1999 103-105 2500-3000 Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh

& MaharashtraL-5 1999 120-125 3500-4000 Karnataka Champavathi (VR 708)

1998 90-95 2000-2500 Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa

MR 1 1998 125-130 3500-4000 KarnatakaPR 230 (Maruthi)

1998 90-100 2500-3000 Andhra Pradesh (Telangana region)

GPU 28 1996 110-115 3500-4000 KarnatakaBirsa marua 2 1996 110-115 2000-2500 Chotanagapur regions of JharkandVL-146 1995 100-105 2500-3000 Andhra PradeshBM 2 1995 105-110 2400-2600 BiharDapoli 1 1994 100-110 1500-2000 Konkan regions of MaharashtraSuraj (VR 520) 1994 90-95 2200-2800 All over IndiaKM 65 1994 98-102 1800-2100 Uttar Pradesh

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Field standardsRagi is a self-pollinated crop and should

be raised in isolation. The isolation distance maintained between the varieties is 3 metres for both foundation and certified seed production to maintain the varietal purity.


certified and foundation seeds should be 97% with a minimum of 75% of germination capacity and 12% of moisture content. The presence of inert matter should not exceed 2.0%.

A 404 1993 110-115 2200-2500 BiharGautami (PR 1158-9)

1993 115-120 2800-3000 Andhra Pradesh

GN 3 1993 130-136 2200-2500 GujaratPadmavathi(PPR 2350)

1993 110-115 2500-3000 Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Indaf 15 1991 110-115 3500-4000 KarnatakaVL 149 1991 98-102 2000-2500 All statesSaptagiri (PR 2614)

1990 105-110 2500-3000 Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh

KM 13 1989 95-110 2500-3000 Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, OrissaPES 400 1989 98-102 1800-2000 Hills of U.PCo 13 1989 110-120 2500-3000 Tamil NaduTRY 1 1989 100-105 2000-2500 Tamil NaduVL 124 1989 95-100 2000-2500 Hills of U.PRAU 8 1989 105-110 2200-2500 Bihar and other statesGujarat nagli 2 (NS 109)

1988 110-115 2500-3000 Gujarat

Indaf 9 1988 100-105 3000-3500 KarnatakaHR 911 1986 110-115 4000-5000 KarnatakaIndaf 8 1986 115-120 3500-4000 Karnataka

Seed standards for seed certification in finger millet

Seed standards Foundation seed Certified seedMinimum physical purity (%) 97 97Maximum inert matter (%) 2 2Maximum other distinguishing varieties (number/kg) - -

Field standards for seed certification in finger millet

Field standards Foundation seed Certified seedMinimum field inspection (number) 3 3Minimum isolation distance (metres) 3 3Maximum off-type (%) 0.05 0.10Maximum objectionable weeds (%) - -Maximum different crop plants (%) - -Maximum objectionable diseases (%) - -


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Seed agronomy & crop management

Land selectionRagi can be grown in poor to fertile soil. The

crop can tolerate salinity better than any other crops. The selected land should be free from volunteer plants. The land should not be cultivated with same crop in the previous season. Land should be ploughed 2 - 3 times to get fine tilth and levelled.

Crop management

Finger millet: Irrigated1. Raising of nursery (irrigated transplanted crop)

For raising seedlings to plant one ha of main field, select 12.5 cents (500 m2) of nursery area near a water source, where water does not stagnate. Mix 37.5 kg of super phosphate with 500 kg of FYM or compost and spread the mixture evenly on the nursery area. Plough two or three times with a mould board plough or five times with a country plough. Form raised beds by marking units of 6 plots each of size 3 m x 1.5 m. Provide 30 cm space between plots for irrigation. Excavate the soil from the interspace and all around to a depth of 15 cm to form channels and spread the soil removed from the channels on the bed and level.

Pre-treatment of the seeds with fungicides: Seed treatment with Azospirillum may be done @ 3 packets/ha (600 g/ha) and 3 packets (600 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos (1200 g/ha). Mix the seeds in a polythene bag to ensure a uniform coating of seeds with Thiram 4 g/ kg or Captan 4 g/kg or Carbendazim 2 g/kg of seeds.

Sowing : Make shallow rills not deeper than one cm on the beds by passing the fingers vertically over them. Broadcast 5 kg of treated seeds evenly on the beds. Cover the seeds by levelling out the hand lightly over the soil. Sprinkle 500 kg of powdered FYM over the beds evenly to cover the seeds which are exposed and compact the surface lightly. Do not sow the seeds deep as germination will be adversely affected.

Irrigation: Adjust the frequency of irrigation according to the soil type. Provide one inlet to each nursery unit. Allow water to enter through the inlet and cover all the channels around the beds. Allow the water in the channels to raise till the raised beds are wet and then cut off water. One irrigation is given on the 3rd day in the case of red soil to soften the hard crust formed on the soil surface and also to facilitate seedlings to emerge out. Do not allow cracks to develop in the nursery bed by properly

Maximum other crop seed (number/kg) 10 20Maximum other weed seed (number/kg) 10 20Maximum objectionable weeds (number/kg) - -Maximum objectionable diseases (percentage by number)

- -

Minimum germination (%) 75 75Maximum moisture (%)

Ordinary container 12 12Vapour proof container 8 8

Form Raised Bed of size 3 m x 1.5 m

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adjusting the quantity of irrigation water. 2. Preparation and management of main field

Plough twice with mould board plough or thrice with wooden plough till a good tilth is obtained. Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the unploughed field and then plough and incorporate in the soil. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If soil test recommendation is not available, adopt a blanket recommendation of 60 kg N, 30 kg PO5 and 30 kg K2O5 per ha.

Apply half the dose of N and full dose of N and full dose of P2O5 basally before planting. Broadcast the fertilizer mixture over the field before the last ploughing and incorporate into the soil by working

a country plough. Apply 10 packets/ha (2000 g) of azospirillum and 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000 g/ha) after mixing with 25 kg of soil and 25 kg FYM before transplanting.

Transplanting: Let water into the bed, level the bed, if it is not levelled. Plant 2 seedlings per hill. Plant the seedlings at a depth of 3 cm. Plant 18 to 20 days old seedlings. Adopt a spacing of 30x10 cm for planting. Adopt 22.5 x 10 cm spacing for direct sowing. Root dipping with Azospirillum prepare slurry with 5 packets (1000 g)/ha of Azospirillum and 5 packets (1000g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 10 packets of Azophos (2000 g/ha) in 40 litres of water and dip the root portion of the seedlings in the solution for 15-30 minutes and transplant.

No. of irrigations Red Soils Heavy Soils 1st Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing 2nd 3rd day after sowing 4th day after sowing 3rd 7th day after sowing 9th day after sowing 4th 12th day after sowing 16th day after sowing 5th 17th day after sowing ..

Pull out seedlings on the 17th to 20th day of sowing for planting.


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Weed managementThe seed production field should be maintained

weed free from the initial stage. For chemical weed control, apply PE Oxyfluorfen @ 0.05 kg a.i/ha on 3 DAS using Backpack Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat fan type of nozzle with 500 litre

of water/ha followed by one hand weeding on 20 DAS. Apply the herbicides when there is sufficient moisture in the soil or irrigate immediately after application of herbicide. If pre-emergence herbicide is not applied, hand weed twice on 15th and 30th day after transplanting. After hand weeding allow the weeds to dry for 2 – 3 days.

Adopt a spacing of 30x10 cm for planting

Hoeing and hand weeding: Hoe and hand weed on the 15th day of planting in light soils and 17th day of planting in heavy soils and subsequently on 30th and 32nd days, respectively. Allow the weeds to dry

Pre-emergence herbicide Weed free ragi field

for 2 or 3 days after hand weeding before giving irrigation. Do not adopt hoeing and hand weeding if herbicide is applied.

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HarvestingRagi crop does not mature uniformly and hence

the harvest is to be taken up in two stages. When the earhead on the main shoot and 50% of the earheads on the crop turn brown, the crop is ready for the first harvest. Seven days after the first harvest, cut

IV. Water management

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop

Stages No. of irrigations

80 days Crop duration 100 days

120 days

Vegetative phase(Nursery) 1 to 16 1 to 18 1 to 20Vegetative phase (in main field)

1 to18 1 to 20 1 to 22

Flowering phase 19 to 40 21 to 55 23 to 69Maturity phase Beyond 40 days Beyond 55 days Beyond 69 daysHeavy soils Establishment 1 1st day 1st day 1st day(1-7 days) 2 5th day 5th day 5th dayVegetative phase 1 18th day 20th day 20th day(8-20 days) 2 31st day 33rd day 30th dayFlowering phase 1 41st day 42nd day 37thd ay(21-55 days) 2 51st day 52nd day 44th day 3 -- -- 63rd dayMaturity phase 1 61st day 62nd day 78th day(56-120 days) 2 -- -- 93rd dayStop irrigation thereafter Light soils Establishment 1 1st day 1st day 1st day (1 – 7 days) 2 5th day 5th day 5th day Vegetative phase 1 15th day 16th day 16th day (8 - 20 days) 2 26th day 28th day 28th day Flowering phase 1 36th day 36th day 36th day (21 - 55 days) 2 45th day 45th day 45th day 3 .. 54th day 54th day Maturity phase 1 58th day 69th day 78th day (56 - 120 days) 2 70th day 85th day 93rd day Stop irrigation thereafter NOTE: The irrigation schedule is given only as a general guideline. Regulate irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather conditions and receipt of rain.

all the earheads including the green ones. Cure the grains to obtain maturity by heaping the harvested earheads in shade for one day without drying, so that the humidity and temperature increase and the grains get cured. Dry, thresh and clean the grains by winnowing and store the grains in gunnies.


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Threshing: Green earheads if harvested will contaminate the seeds with immature seeds and interfere cleaning, drying and grading. Dry earheads until seed moisture content is 15% and separate manually by threshing with bamboo stick or machine thresher. Threshed seeds should be precleaned before sundrying, seeds must be dried to 12% before grading. Admix one kg of Activated kaolin or Malathion 5% D for every 100 kg of seed. Pack in gunny or polythene lined gunny bags for storage.

Finger millet : Rainfed Average and well distributed rainfall of 450-500

mm is optimum for rainfed ragi. Fallow ploughing is advantageous for moisture conservation. In the month of April or May, one deep ploughing with mould board plough followed by ploughing with wooden plough twice is necessary. Before sowing secondary tillage with cultivator and multiple tooth hoe to prepare smooth seed bed is necessary.

Seed rate and planting: A plant population of 4 – 5 lakhs per ha is optimum for getting higher yields and higher or lower population than the optimum will reduce the yield. Poor germination, often, is the result of inadequate moisture after sowing in low rainfall areas. Under these conditions, the adoption of a simple technique like seed hardening will not only improve germination and subsequent plant stand but also impart early seedling vigour and tolerance to drought.

Seed hardening: Soak seeds in water for 6 hours. Use one litre water for every kg seed for soaking. Drain the water and keep the seeds in wet cloth bag tightly tied for two days. At this stage, the seeds will show initial signs of germination. Remove seeds from the wet cloth bag and dry them in shade on a dry cloth for 2 days. Use the above hardened seeds for sowing.

Line sowing is ideal and seed drills giving spacing of 22.5 – 30 cm between rows should be used. Finger millet seeds are very small (400 seeds/g) and the recommended seed rate of 15-20

kg per hectare will contain about 4 million seeds. Therefore, even when seed drill is used thinning within the row leaving a spacing of 7.5 – 10 cm between plants, must be followed. Sowing by seed-cum-fertilizer drill is advantageous for line sowing besides efficient utilization of applied nutrients.

Manuring and fertilizationFinger millet responds well to fertilizer

application especially to N and P. The recommended doses of fertilizers vary from state to state for rainfed crop. Recommended dose of 40:20:20 kg/ha N:P:K was applied. With judicious application of farmyard manure inorganic fertilizer efficiency is enhanced. Entire P2O5 and K2O are to be applied at sowing, whereas nitrogen is to be applied in two or three split doses depending upon moisture availability. In areas of good rainfall and moisture availability, 50% of recommended nitrogen is to be applied at sowing and the remaining 50% in two equal splits at 25-30 and 40-45 days after sowing. In areas of uncertain rainfall, 50% at sowing and the remaining 50% around 35 days after sowing is recommended.

Bio-fertilizers :Treating seeds with Azospirillum brasilense (N fixing bacterium) and Aspergillus awamori (P solubilizing fungs) @ 25 g/kg seed is beneficial. In case seeds are to be treated with seed dressing chemicals, treat the seeds first with seed dressing chemicals and then with bio-fertilizers at the time of sowing.

Weed control: In line sown crop 2-3 inter-cultivations are necessary. In assured rainfall and irrigated areas spraying 2, 4-D sodium salt @ 0.75 kg.a.i./ha as post-emergent spray around 20-25 days after sowing effectively controls weeds. Isoproturon @ 0.5 a.i/ha as pre-emergence spray is also effective in control of weeds. In broadcast crop two effective hand weedings will minimize weeds as inter cultivations is not possible.

Roguing: Roguing should be done often to remove the offtypes, volunteer plants and diseased plants

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from the seed production field to avoid the genetic contamination. Roguing should be done upto the flowering stage. Maximum percentage of offtype permitted at the final inspection is 0.05% for foundation and 0.10% for certified seed production.

Field inspection: A minimum of two inspections should be done between flowering and maturity stages by the Seed Certification Officer. The first inspection is done at the time of flowering to check the isolation and off-types and the second done during the maturity stage prior to harvest to check the off-types and to estimate the yield.

Harvesting and processing: Harvest is done once the earheads are physiologically mature. Physiologically mature earheads will turn from brown to green colour. Harvesting is done in two pickings since, the maturation of the earheads are not uniform because of the tillering habit of the crop. Second harvesting should be done seven days after the first one. Mature earheads should be harvested and threshed with bamboo sticks. Threshed grains are further cleaned by winnowing.

Drying and storage: The cleaned seeds should be sun dried to attain a safe moisture level of 12%. Care should be taken while drying to avoid mechanical injury to the seeds and contamination. Seeds can be stored upto 13 months under proper storage conditions.

Crop diseases and pests managementFinger millet is affected by pests and diseases

like pink stem borer, aphids, root aphids, earhead caterpillars, blast, brown spot, mottle streak virus etc., at different growth stages.

To control root aphids, mix Dimethoate 3 ml in one litre of water and drench the rhizosphere of the infested and surrounding plants with the insecticidal solution.

For the control of blast disease, choosing resistant variety and treating seeds with carbendazim @ 2 g/kg seed effectively controlled the blast incidence and resulted in higher yield. Spraying of SAAF @ 0.2 % at 50% flowering and one more need based spray after 10 days is also effective in controlling neck and finger blast.

Smut: Since the disease is mainly seed-borne, it can be controlled by treating the seed with organomercurials or steeping the seed for 10 to 30 minutes in 2 per cent copper sulphate solution or 0.5 per cent formalin for about 30 minutes.

Apply VAM culture (Glomus fasciculatum) at 100 g/m2 in the nursery and also treat with Azospirillum and Phosphobacterium as seed treatment, seedling dip and field application to reduce the reniform nematode population in finger millet.

Blast (Finger millet):Mancozeb @2.5g/l water or [email protected]/l of water


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Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is a well known small millet variety belonging to the family Gramineae.

Foxtail millet is mostly grown mixed with other crops like cotton, castor, pigeon pea, bajra, groundnut and finger millet. It is also grown as a pure crop, particularly in black cotton soils where it is followed by a rabi crop like coriander in favourable seasons or by safflower or horsegram in years of less rainfall.

Foxtail or Italian millet may well have unrealized potential and the Chinese have claimed exceptionally high yields sometimes exceeding 11,000 kg/ha. However, in India the yield of rainfed pure crop varies from 400-800 kg of grain and 1000-2000 kg of straw per ha. Generally cooked like rice or made into porridge, it makes a food which is considered to be very nutritious. The grain must be pounded or otherwise husked before cooking to remove the tightly enclosed glume. Research on forage quality shows foxtail is similar in quality to other C4 annual grasses. It is finer-stemmed and easier to cure than pearl millet or forage sorghum.

OriginFoxtail millet (Setaria italica) is also known as

Italian or German-Hungarian or Siberian millet. Foxtail millet was considered to be domesticated in the highlands of central China. The main production regions of the world include China, parts of India, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Manchuria, Korea, and Georgia. It is also one of the specialty crops in Japan. In Asia it is mainly grown for human consumption. It was recently introduced in the United States for hay or silage. Because of its short growth cycle it is a suitable crop for nomads, and it was probably brought to Europe in this way during the Stone Age, as seeds abound in the Lake Dwellings in Europe.

AdaptationIt is cultivated in both tropical and temperate

regions. The crop can be grown successfully in areas receiving 750 mm of annual rainfall. Foxtail millet is essentially a grain crop of about 100 days duration suited to conditions of low and moderate rainfall

ranging from 500 to 700 mm. It can be grown in higher altitudes (up to 1830 m above MSL) and is an important food grain in the foothills of Himalayas. It is a crop grown almost throughout the year in different parts of the country. Cultivation of foxtail millet in the lower Deccan Plateau including high lands of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu account for about 90 per cent of the area in the country. In the hilly regions of North India, foxtail millet is sown with other kharif crops and matures in about 2 months, providing food during scarcity periods. In Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and U.P. it is grown from June-July to September-October either as a border or as a mixed crop with several kharif crops.

BotanyGrowth and development of foxtail millet is

well documented. A progressive shortening of the vegetative period occurs with later plantings, and stem elongation is determined by the length of the vegetative period. Stem elongation was hastened by

Foxtail Millet

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late sowing and was retarded by early sowing. The transition from vegetative growth into inflorescence takes place very rapidly. In the lower third of the cone of growth, initial humps of secondary axes appear following enlarged growth of the growing point, with the middle and upper parts still undifferentiated. Later, secondary axes differentiate up to the very top into points of growth.

The inflorescence of foxtail millet has a main stalk with shortened side branches bearings spikes and bristles. The first flowers of foxtail millet may open when three fourths of the panicle emerges from the sheath, or as many as five days after full emergence. Flowering proceeds from the top of the head downward in each of the panicle branches. A large head may take 8 to 16 days to compete flowering. A single floret may remain open about 30 min, and about 80 min are required for the complete blooming process, which is hastened by

high temperatures and low humidity.

Crop specific issuesFoxtail millet is grown mainly as a dry land crop

in semi-arid regions receiving an annual rainfall of less than 125mm. The time of planting typically ranges from May through July. The crop cycle depends on the cultivar and on growth conditions; it may range from 60 to 120 days with a productivity ranging from 800 to 900 kg/ha of grain and about 2500 kg/ha of straw. If the crop is grown for hay or silage it should be harvested when in bloom, since the protein concentration at that stage peaks around 12 – 14%.

Seed productionBest season for seed production is June - July

and February – March. The pollination should not coincide with rains for quality and effective seed setting.

Field standardsFoxtail millet is a self-pollinated crop and

should be raised in isolation. The isolation distance


List of recently notified foxtail millet varieties in India

Variety name Year of release State of release RemarksSiA 3085 2011 CentralHMT-100-1 2007 KarnatakaCo(Te) 7 2005 Tamil NaduPratap Kangni-1 (SR-51) 2003 Rajasthan Bold seedMeera (SR-16) 1999 Rajasthan Stay green characterPant Setaria-4 (PS 4) 1998 Central Wide adaptation and high yieldGavari (SR-11) 1995 Rajasthan High seed yieldTNAU-43 1994 Tamil NaduKrishna Devaraya 1993 Andhra Pradesh High seed yieldLepakshi (AK-132-1) 1990 Andhra Pradesh Drought tolerant, high seed yieldK-3 1989 Tamil Nadu High seed yieldNischal 1988 UP High seed yield

maintained between the varieties is 3 metres for both foundation and certified seed production to maintain the varietal purity.


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certified and foundation seeds should be 97% with a

Field standards for seed certification in foxtail millet


Seed standards Foundation seed Certified seedMinimum physical purity (%) 97 97Maximum inert matter (%) 2 2Maximum other distinguishing varieties (number/kg) - -Maximum other crop seed (number/kg) 10 20Maximum other weed seed (number/kg) 10 20Maximum objectionable weeds (number/kg) - -Maximum objectionable diseases (percentage by number) - -Minimum germination (%) 75 75Maximum moisture (%)


Seed standards for seed certification in foxtail millet

minimum of 75% of germination capacity and 12% of moisture content. The presence of inert matter should not exceed 2.0%.

Seed agronomy & crop managementEarly sowing in the monsoon always produces

higher yields than later sowings. The longer duration varieties gave higher fodder yield when sown early.

Land selection: Foxtail millet needs moderately fertile soil for good yield. The selected land should be free from volunteer plants. The land should not be cultivated with same crop in the previous season. Land should be ploughed 2 - 3 times to get a fine tilth and levelled.

Seed selection and sowing: Seeds used for seed production should be of good quality certified

seeds from an authentic source. Seeds should be healthy with required germination percentage. Recommended seed rate is 2 kg/acre (5 kg/ha). Selected seeds should be treated with Azospirillum @ 125 gms/kg of seeds. Treated seeds should be sown with a spacing of 30 x 10 cm at a depth of 3 – 4 cm.

Main field preparation: The main field should be ploughed for 2 – 3 times to make it a fine tilth and formed into ridges and furrows. During final plough apply compost or farmyard manure @ 5 tonnes/acre (12.5 tonnes/ ha) and incorporate into the soil. Seeds can be sown in the ridges at a depth 3 - 4 cm with a spacing of 30 × 10 cm.

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Nutrient management: Before final ploughing compost or farmyard manure @ 5 tonnes/acre (12.5 tonnes/ha) should be applied and ploughed into the soil. Instead of this cattle penning can also be practiced. 50 kg neem cake and 500 kg vermicompost per acre (125 kg neem cake and 1250 kg vermicompost per hectare) should be applied as basal manure.

For rainfed crop, apply 50 kg/acre (125 kg/ hectare) of pungam cake and 250 kg/acre (600 kg/hectare) of vermicompost as basal manure just before sowing. After first weeding at 20 – 25 days after sowing top dressing should be done using enriched vermicompost (2 kg Azospirillum, 2 kg Phosphobacterium and 2 litres Panchagavya mixed with 250 kg vermicompost and kept covered for a week and then used) @ 250 kg/acre (600 kg/ha). During flower initiation stage 10% tender coconut solution (1 litre tender coconut water + 9 litres of water) should be sprayed. All the above mentioned inputs should be applied to the rainfed crop only when the soil is wet.

Weed management: The seed production field should be maintained weed free. Weeding can be done with a tyne harrow when the crop is 30 days old. Allow the weeds to dry for 2 - 3 days after hand weeding.

Irrigation: Kharif season crop does not require any irrigation. It is mostly grown as a rainfed crop. However, if the dry spell prevails for longer period, then 1 - 2 irrigations should be given to boost the yield. Summer crop requires 2 - 5 irrigations depending upon soil type and climatic conditions. During heavy rains the excess water from the field should be drained out.

Roguing: Roguing should be done often to remove the off-types, volunteer plants and diseased plants from the seed production field to avoid the genetic contamination. Roguing should be done up to the flowering stage. Maximum percentage of off-types permitted at the final inspection is 0.05% for

foundation and 0.10% for certified seed production.

Field inspection: A minimum of two inspections should be done between flowering and maturity stages by the Seed Certification Officer. The first inspection is done at the time of flowering to check the isolation and off-types and the second inspection is done during the maturity stage prior to harvest to check the off-types and to estimate the yield.

Harvesting and processing: Harvest is done once the earheads are physiologically mature. Normally crop is ready for harvest in 80 - 100 days after sowing. Physiologically mature earheads will start to dry. Plants are either harvested intact with earheads or earheads alone. The earheads are dried before threshing. The earheads are threshed by stone roller or trampling under the feet of bullocks. The threshed grains are further cleaned by winnowing.

Drying and storage: The cleaned seeds should be dried under the sun to attain a safe moisture level of 12%. Care should be taken while drying to avoid mechanical injury to the seeds and contamination. Seeds can be stored upto 13 months under proper storage conditions.

Crop diseases and pests managementFoxtail millet is affected by pests like army

worm, cut worm, leaf scrapping beetle and shoot fly and diseases like blast and rust at different growth stages. Sowing early in July minimized the incidence of blast and rust.

Blast, brown spot and rust: If these diseases appear at the early stages of the crop, spray Mancozeb (0. 2%).

Grain smut : Seed treatment with Carbendazim @ 2 g/ kg seed.

Downy mildew: Seed treatment with Ridomil MZ @ 2 g/litre. Roguing out and destroying the affected plants.

Army worms, Cut worms and Leaf scraping beetles: Need based dust application of Malathion 5 % @ 3.2 – 4.0 kg/ha


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Kodo Millet (Varagu) (Paspalum scrobiculatum) is a well known minor millet belonging to the family

Gramineae. This coarse millet is highly resistant to drought and can also be cultivated in the areas with 400 - 500 mm annual rainfall. It is grown in gravelly and stony upland poor soils to loamy soils. But its cultivation in very fertile soils can boost its production and productivity to a great extent.

OriginKodo millet is a native of India and is in

cultivation since time immemorial. Greater diversity of Paspalum species in the Hindustan centre. The crop was domesticated in southern Rajasthan and Maharashtra some 3000 years ago. The crop is known to be spread throughout the tropical regions of the world.

AdaptationKodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) is grown

throughout Asia and Africa, but is only cultivated as a minor grain crop in India, where it is of great importance in the Deccan Plateau. Its cultivation as grain crop in India is generally confined to Gujarat, Karnataka, and parts of Tamil Nadu. In other parts of the world it is grown as a forage crop.

BotanyKodo millet is an annual herb with adventitious

root arises from lower nodes with numerous thin roots. Branched roots spread laterally and profusely, remain functional throughout the life. Stem is erect, rarely ascending with 60-90 cm height, tufted on a very short rhizome. Glabrous stem with swollen nodes and fully sheathed internodes. Nodal bands become purple at later stage. First node is hairy and the other nodes are glabrous with solid internodes.

The length of internodes increases gradually from bottom to top in any tillers. The number of tillers varies from 5 to 18 according to genotypes.

The Leaf is simple, alternate, bifarious, erect or sub-erect, finely acuminate, glabrous or sometimes soft hairy. Sheaths long, compressed, loose, the mouth hairy with very short membranous ligule.

Inflorescence is a spike or spike like racemes. Each spikelet consists of 1 or 2 flowers and bears at the base bracts or glumes, one placed a little above and opposite the other. These two are empty while a third one called lemma is flowering i.e. it enclosed a flower in its axil. Opposite the flowering glume or Lemma, there is somewhat smaller, two nerved glumes called Palea. Spikes 2-6, sessile usually distant and spreading, rachis herbaceous, broad with ciliate margins. Spikelets usually 2 ranked, 2-3 mm diameter, sessile or shortly pedicilate, broadly elliptic or suborbicular imbricate.

Androecium: Stamens 3, filamentous, anthers 3, 2 locules, open by longitudinal sutures, versatile and pendulous. Gynoecium: Monocarpellary, ovary superior, one cell with one ovule, stigma 2, feathery, style distinct. Grain: Utricle type in which pericarp is like a sac usually attached to endosperm at only one point. Grains are rotundate-elliptic, convex in front, flat on back of palea, scutellum up to half the length of the grain.

Kodo Millet

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Flowering behaviourFlowers of kodo millet are cleistogamous in

nature and thus remained closed. Protogynous flowers occurs rarely in few genotypes. The opening of the flowers occurs between 7.30 to 8.00 AM in Nagpur conditions. Only 5% flowers open and remaining being cleistogamous. The glumes begin to open at 2.30 AM. The anthers become visible through opening at 2.40 AM, emerge at 3.15 AM and comes completely out at 3.30 AM. Anthers dehisce at 3.35 AM and glumes close completely at 3.45 AM. The dehiscence of anther occurs by a slit at one end and speed up gradually. Mostly the dehiscence of anther begins from the middle and proceed to both ends. The feathery stigma dry up in the evening. The anthers remains fresh and do not wither till next morning. The lodicules are fleshy and do not shrink immediately after the anthesis of flowers. They remain fleshy for 6 to 8 hour after opening the glume and then dried up. The grains mature in 30¬40 days after flowering and remain tightly enclosed by the hardened fourth glume and its palea and have various shades of brown colour.

The best time of anthesis is between 5.45 and 7.30 AM. In this period a single floret of panicle is

open for 20 to 30 minutes. The stigma comes first during anthesis of flowers and anthers arise just after the emergence of stigma.

Crop specific issuesKodo is an annual tufted grass that grows to

90 cm high. Some forms have been reported to be poisonous to humans and animals, possibly because of a fungus infecting the grain. The grain is enclosed in hard, corneous, persistent husks that are difficult to remove. The grain may vary in color from light red to dark grey. Compared to other small millets, it has a long-crop cycle, ranging from 105 to 120 days.

Kodo millet is one of the hardiest among the small millets and grows well in shallow as well as deep soils; it is also adopted to water logged soils. The seeds can remain dormant and be stored for many years. It can produce grain yields of 850 kg/ha without fertilizer and up to 1600 kg/ha with application of N and P.

Seed productionSeed production can be done in June – July and

February – March. The pollination should not coincide with rains for quality and effective seed setting.

Name ofthe crop/variety

Yearof

release

AdaptationZone

Special features

JK 76 1989 Madhya Pradesh Earliness JK 62 1989 Madhya Pradesh Earliness and high yield GPUK 3 1991 All states Yield, earliness and resistance to grain smut AKP 1 1993 Tamil Nadu High seed yield GK 2 1993 Gujarath --Vamban – 1 (KMV 20) 1996 Tamil Nadu --RBK 155 2000 Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka Resistant to head smut and shootfly.JK 48 2001 A.P., M.P., Chattisgarh,

Karnataka & Gujarath. Tolerance to head smut and high grain yield

KK 2 2002 Uttar Pradesh Resistant to drought and lodging and suitable for saline condition



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Field standardsKodo millet is a self-pollinated crop. The crop

should be raised in isolation. The isolation distance maintained between the varieties is 3 metres for both foundation and certified seed production to maintain the varietal purity.


certified and foundation seeds should be 97% with a minimum of 75% of germination capacity and 12% of moisture content. The presence of inert matter should not exceed 2.0%.

Seed agronomy & crop managementLand selection: The selected land should be free from volunteer plants. The land should not be cultivated with the same crop in the previous season. Land should be fertile with good drainage facility.

Seed selection and sowing: Seeds used for seed production should be of good quality certified seeds from an authentic source. Seeds should be healthy with required germination percentage. In North India, sowing should be done in mid June

Field standards for seed certification in kodo millet


Seed standards for seed certification in kodo millet

Seed standards Foundation seed Certified seedMinimum physical purity (%) 97 97Maximum inert matter (%) 3 3Maximum other distinguishing varieties (number/kg) - -vMaximum other crop seed (number/kg) 10 20Maximum other weed seed (number/kg) 10 20Maximum objectionable weeds (number/kg) - -Maximum objectionable diseases (percentage by number)

- -



to mid July and in South India during September – December. Recommended seed rate is 4 kg/acre (10 kg/ha). Selected seeds should be treated with Azospirillum @ 60 gms/kg of seeds. Treated seeds should be sown with a spacing of 30 x 10 cm. Seeds should be sown at the depth of 3 – 4 cm.

Main field preparation: The main field should be ploughed before the onset of monsoon to enable the soil to hold the moisture. At the onset of monsoon field should be ploughed for 2 – 3 times to make it a fine tilth and formed into ridges and furrows.

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During final plough apply compost or farmyard manure @ 5 tonnes/acre (12.5 tonnes/ha) and incorporate into the soil. Seeds can be sown in the ridges with a spacing of 30 × 10 cm.

Nutrient management: Before final ploughing compost or farmyard manure @ 5 tonnes/acre (12.5 tonnes/ha) should be applied and ploughed into the soil. Instead of this cattle penning can also be practiced. 50 kg neem cake and 500 kg vermicompost per acre (125 kg neem cake and 1250 kg vermicompost per hectare) should be applied as basal manure. For rainfed crop, apply 50 kg/acre (125 kg/ hectare) of pungam cake and 250 kg per acre (600 kg / hectare) of vermicompost as basal manure just before sowing. After first weeding at 20 – 25 days after sowing top dressing should be done using enriched vermicompost (2 kg Azospirillum, 2 kg Phosphobacterium and 2 litres Panchagavya mixed with 250 kg vermicompost and kept covered for a week and then used) @ 250 kg/acre (600 kg/ha). During flower initiation stage 10% tender coconut solution (1 litre tender coconut water + 9 litres of water) should be sprayed. All the above mentioned inputs should be applied to the rainfed crop only when the soil is wet.

Weed management: The seed production field should be maintained weed free from the initial stage. It is essential to control the weeds in the initial stages of plant growth especially upto 35 – 40 days after sowing. Generally two weedings at an interval of 15 days is sufficient. Weeding can be done with hand hoe or wheel hoe in line sown crop.

Irrigation: Kharif season crop does not require any irrigation, it is mostly grown as a rainfed crop. In the absence of rains one or two irrigation can be done. During heavy rains the excess water from the field should be drained out.

Roguing: Roguing should be done often to remove the off-types, volunteer plants and diseased plants from the seed production field to avoid the genetic

contamination. Roguing should be done upto the flowering stage. Maximum percentage of off-type permitted at the final inspection is 0.05% for foundation and 0.10% for certified seed production.

Field inspection: A minimum of two inspections should be done between flowering and maturity stages by the Seed Certification Officer. The first inspection is done at the time of flowering to check the isolation and off-types and the second done during the maturity stage prior to harvest to check the off-types and to estimate the yield.

Harvesting and processing: Harvest is done once the earheads are physiologically mature. Normally crop is ready for harvest in 100 days. Physiologically mature earheads will turn from brown to green colour. Plants are cut close to the ground level, bundled and stacked for a week before threshing. The earheads are threshed by trampling under the feet of bullocks. The threshed grains are further cleaned by winnowing.

Drying and storage: The cleaned seeds should be sun dried to attain a safe moisture level of 12%. Care should be taken while drying to avoid mechanical injury to the seeds and contamination. Seeds can be stored upto 13 months under proper storage conditions.

Crop diseases and pests managementHead smut disease is known to be prevalent

during some years which is seed borne. Steeping the seeds in 1.5 per cent copper sulphate or dusting with copper carbonate at 6 g/kg of seed are equally effective. Organomercurial dusts for seed treatment also control the disease. Bavistin 25 SD [carbendazim], Dithane M45 [mancozeb] and Parasan [phenylmercury acetate] at 2 g/kg seed also give best disease control.

Shootfly: Soil application of phorate 1 kg a. i/ha in furrow is effective in checking shootfly infestation.


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Little millet (Panicum sumatrense) belongs to the family Gramineae. It is grown throughout India with

major areas in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Bihar, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Little millet can thrive well upto an elevation of 2100 metres in tropics and subtropics and is photo-insensitive. Little millet originated in Southeast Asia and is nowadays grown throughout India, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. It is cultivated to a limited extent up to altitudes of 2100

m. The dehusked grain is cooked like rice and eaten. In parts of South India, the grain is processed very similar to the parboiling of rice. Often, roti and porridge are made and consumed. It is also made into flour, used for making puddings or cakes. Another method is to cook cracked grains with vegetables and spices to prepare a food similar to curried rice. Fortification with lysine and heat processing improves protein quality and nutrition. In many tribal areas, little millet is considered as a cash crop as it fetches much higher prices than rice. The straw is thin, soft and cattle consume it readily.

OriginThe origin of this crop is not well documented

except for the probable Indian origin since it is endemic to India and has a name in all vernacular languages of India. Panicum miliare or little millet is cultivated or naturalized throughout India and Sri Lanka, and cultivated in neighbouring countries. The distribution of the crop is limited to India and little diversity is found elsewhere. The luxuriant presence of Panicum psilopodium Trin., a wild relative of little millet in India, is suggestive of Indian origin.

AdaptationThe crop can grow well in drought conditions

and considered as a good famine food as it can produce some grain even under severe drought conditions when all the other crops fail to produce. It is a typical dryland crop suitable for the areas with low rainfall and poor soils.

Little millet is able to thrive on marginal soils

which otherwise yield nothing, and mature as a crop even during famine years. It is a. hardy crop which ran withstand drought better than most of the other cereal crops and also water-logging to a certain degree. If the crop fails, the farmer stands to lose very little as the cost of production as well as the land value is negligible.

BotanyMorphology and Anatomy: It is an annual grass, with culm 30-90 cm. high, rather slender, erect or base geniculate, simple or branched; leaves linear 15 to 50 cm. or more in length, 12to 25 cm, broad, gradually tapering from a broad base, glabrous or finely hairy; Sheath- rarely hairy with tubercled base hairs; Ligule- an arrow row of hairs; Node- glabrous; Panicle- very compound, contracted of thyrsiform, often nodding, 15 to

Little Millet

110


45 cm. long; Spikelet- glabrous, rather flattened, suddenly cuspidate, 3-4.5mm, long, mostly paired on unequal pedicels, but often solitary at the end of the branchlets, lanceolate in flower, elliptic or broadly elliptic in fruit. Glume I- very broadly ovate, subtruncate, then suddenly acute, or scarcely acute, about 1/3 the spikelet, white, membranous, 3-5 nerved, nerves arching and anastomising. Glume II - herbaceous, ovate, lanceolate, 11-13 nerved, almost as long as the spikelet. Glume III- herbaceous, broadly ovate, 9 nerved, slightly shorter than glume II, palea as long as the glume (3-4 mm.) flower neuter or rarely with 3 stamens. Glume IV- narrow elliptic, or elliptic oblong to broadly ovate, acute, shining white or pale brown or dark brown, often 3-5 streaked dorsally; Fruit- caryopsis enclosed tightly within the fourth glume and its palea (2.5 to 3.5 mm).

Anthesis and Pollination: The hermophrodite flowers which open in basipetallic pattern have brief and rapid anthesis period. The glumes open for not more than 2-3 minutes, and self-pollination is a rule. There is hardly any natural cross pollination.

Under Indian conditions, the flowers open between 9 AM and 12 noon. Emasculation and artificial pollination is difficult in view of small flower size but not impossible. Encouraging results have been obtained by the contact method of crossing.

Crop specific issuesLittle millet is often planted with the onset of

monsoon and it is the first crop to be harvested in the season. As a result, they provide precious grain in the lean months. Often these crops are associated with tribal agriculture and has been the preferred crop for extreme soil and climatic conditions because of assured harvests they ensure.

Little millet is raised as a pure crop or as a

subsidiary crop mixed with other millets like finger millet in Karnataka, or pulses like horsegram, or bengalgram in Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Bihar or with oilseeds like gingelly, soyabean in Madhya Pradesh. Shifting cultivation of little millet was prevalent in many hilly parts of India till few decades ago.

Crop rotation is not feasible since the holding size is small besides soils are poor in nutrients and moisture. In some places it is included in a two year rotation with horsegram. Little millet - Niger or little millet - mustard crop sequences are popular in Bihar, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.

On an average, little millet yields 600to 800 kg per hectare. With improved production practices the yield levels could be pushed to 1200-1500 kg per hectare. The husk forms about 20 per cent of the weight of the grain.

Little millet grains can be consumed by direct cooking; they can be made into flour and baked to make bread. Both the plants and the straw are often used as forage. The crop can be grown in a wide range of climates and generally thrives well in poor soils and under adverse climatic conditions. The crop cycle ranges from 2.5 to 5 months. Yield ranges from 200 to 600 kg/ha.

Seed productionSeed production can be done during June –

July and February – March. The pollination should not coincide with rains for quality and effective seed setting.

Field standardsLittle millet is a self-pollinated crop and

should be raised in isolation. The isolation distance maintained between the varieties is 3 metres for both foundation and certified seed production to maintain the varietal purity.


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Improved varieties and their characteristics in little millet


Variety Name

Central/State

Date of Notifi-cation

Adaptation Maturity duration (days)

Pests and disease reaction

Grain Yield (Kg/ha)

Saura (OLM-208)

Central 2010 Recommended for release and cultivation in the states of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat under rainfed upland conditions

71 to 137 Resistant to Blast and moderately resistant to rust, grain smut, sheath blight and shoot fly

1413-3407

Co 4 Tamil Nadu

2007 Low rainfall and low fertile soils in the marginal and sub-marginal, Rainfed dry lands, hill and tribal areas of Tamil Nadu

75 to 80 - 1500

Sabara (OLM-20)

Central 2004 Recommended for release and cultivation for kharif season inUplands of orissa, madhya pradesh and chattishgarh

46 to 77 Moderately resistant to shoot fly. Moderately susceptible to grain smut ; moderately resistant to Sheath blight ; brown spot.

1196 - 2100

Kolab (olm-36)

Central 2001 Recommended for cultivation in MP, Orissa, Chattishgarh, Bihar, Karnataka and Gujarat under rainfed upland condition

77 Moderate resistant to Grain smut and Shootfly, Resistant to brown spot and shoot fly

1091

Tarini (OLM-203)

Central 2001 Recommended for release and cultivation under rainfed upload conditions in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and Tamil Nadu

105 to 115

Resistant to blast and grain smut and moderately resistant to brown spot and shoofly

-

Paiyur-2 Tamil Nadu

2000 Recommended for cultivation in marginal and sub marginal dry land of Tamil Nadu

80-85 Lesser incidence of Grain smut as compared to Co2, Co3 and Paiyur-1

744 to 800

Co-3 Tamil nadu

1997 Recommended for cultivation in rainfed conditions in Tamil Nadu

80 to 85 Tolerant to major diseases and pests.

1066

TNAU-63 Central 1997 Low rain fall and marginal soil areas of Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu

69 to 104 Shoot fly incidence (8%), aphids (14%), brown spot (0.5%grade), Smut Incidence (3.4%)

1152

Birsa gundli-1

Central 1993 Upland, rainfed situation of plateau region of Bihar

55-60 - 700 to 800

Paiyur-1 Central 1989 Tropics of South India - 873

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certified and foundation seeds should be 97% with a minimum of 75% of germination capacity and 12%

Jawahar Kutki-2

Central 1987 - 75 to 80 - 700 to 1000

Jawahar kutki-8

Central 1987 - 80 Moderately resistant to shootfly

PRC-3 Central 1986 Recommended for release for cultivation in MP, Orissa,Bihar, Maharashtra & Karnataka

61 to 93 Moderately resistant to shootfly

-

Gujarat Vari-1

Gujarat 1985 - - 1500

Gariya Band (Din-dori-2)

Madhya Pradesh

1984 - 75 to 80 - 700 to 1000

K-1 Tamil Nadu

1982 - 90 days. - 1285

Co-2 Central 1978 - 80-85 days.

Fairly tolerant to pests under field conditions

Dindori-1 Madhya Pradesh

1973 Heavy rainfall tract of maharashtra state especially konkan Region

125 to 130

No serious pest or disease observed

1500 to 2000

Co1 Tamil nadu

1956 - 90 to 100 The incidence of shoot fly is similar to that of other varieties

400 to 500

Jawahar Kutki-36 (2009)

Madhya Pradesh

Suitable for sole and inter-cropping, lodging medium, resistant to drought, responsive to NPK application, seed rate of 10 kg/ha

76 Tolerant to grain smut and shoofly

4600

V-15 Central Popular in south Bihar and parts of

78 to 80 Moderately resistant to diseases

1400 to 1600

V-17 Central Popular in south Bihar and parts of Orissa.

78 to 80 Moderately resistant to disease

1400 to 1600

of moisture content. The presence of inert matter should not exceed 2.0%.Seed agronomy & crop management


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Field standards for seed certification in little millet


Land selectionLittle millet can be cultivated in both rich and

poor soils. Well drained loam or sandy loam soils rich in organic matter are ideal for cultivation. The selected land should be free from volunteer plants. The land should not be cultivated with same crop in the previous season.

Seed selection and sowingSeeds used for seed production should be of

good quality certified seeds from an authentic source. Seeds should be healthy with required germination percentage. Recommended seed rate is 4 kg/acre (10 kg/ha).

Selected seeds should be treated with Azospirillum @ 60 gms/kg of seeds. Treated seeds should be sown with a spacing of 30 x 10 cm. Seeds should be sown in June – July at the onset of

Seed standards for seed certification in little millet

Seed standards Foundation seed Certified seedMinimum physical purity (%) 97 97Maximum inert matter (%) 2 2Maximum other distinguishing varieties (number/kg)

- -

Maximum other crop seed (number/kg) 10 20Maximum other weed seed (number/kg) 10 20Maximum objectionable weeds (number/kg) - -Maximum objectionable diseases (percentage by number)

- -



monsoon rains. Summer crop should be sown in the month of February – March. Seeds are broadcast manually or by seed driller in furrows at a depth of 3 – 4 cm.

Main field preparationThe main field should be harrowed for 2 – 3

times to make it a fine tilth and levelled. The levelled field is formed into ridges and furrows. During final plough apply compost or farmyard manure @ 5 tonnes/acre (12.5 tonnes/ha) and incorporate into the soil. Seeds can be sown in the ridges at a depth 3 - 4 cm with a spacing of 30 × 10 cm.

Nutrient managementBefore final ploughing compost or farmyard

manure @ 5 tonnes/acre (12.5 tonnes/ha) should be applied and ploughed into the soil. Instead of this

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cattle penning can also be practiced. 50 kg neem cake and 500 kg vermicompost per acre (125 kg neem cake and 1250 kg vermicompost per hectare) should be applied as basal manure. For rainfed crop, apply 50 kg/acre (125 kg/ hectare) of pungam cake and 250 kg/acre (600 kg/hectare) of vermicompost as basal manure just before sowing. After first weeding at 20 – 25 days after sowing top dressing should be done using enriched vermicompost (2 kg Azospirillum, 2 kg Phosphobacterium and 2 litres Panchagavya mixed with 250 kg vermicompost and kept covered for a week and then used) @ 250 kg/acre (600 kg/ha). During flower initiation stage 10% tender coconut solution (1 litre tender coconut water + 9 litres of water) should be sprayed. All the above mentioned inputs should be applied to the rainfed crop only when the soil is wet.

Weed management: The seed production field should be maintained weed free at least upto 35 days after sowing for retaining the soil moisture and nutrients. Subsequent weeding should be done at an interval of 15 – 20 days. Weeding can be done with handhoe or wheel hoe.

Irrigation: Kharif season crop does not require any irrigation. However, if the dry spell prevails for longer period at least one irrigation should be given at the tillering stage to boost the yield. First irrigation should be given 25 - 30 days after sowing followed by the second one at 40 – 45 days after sowing. Summer crop requires 2 - 4 irrigations depending upon soil type and climatic conditions. During heavy rains the excess water from the field should be drained out.

RoguingRoguing should be done often to remove the

offtypes, volunteer plants and diseased plants from the seed production field to avoid the genetic

contamination. Roguing should be done upto the flowering stage. Maximum percentage of offtypes permitted at the final inspection is 0.05% for foundation and 0.10% for certified seed production.

Field inspectionA minimum of two inspections should be done

between flowering and maturity stages by the Seed Certification Officer. The first inspection is done at the time of flowering to check the isolation and off-types and the second inspection is done during the maturity stage prior to harvest to check the off-types and to estimate the yield.

Harvesting and processingHarvest is done once the earheads are

physiologically mature. Normally crop is ready for harvest in 80 - 85 days after sowing. The crop should be harvested when two thirds of the seeds are ripe. The harvested earheads are threshed by hand or trampling under the feet of bullocks. The threshed grains are further cleaned by winnowing.

Drying and storageThe cleaned seeds should be sun dried to attain

a safe moisture level of 12%. Seeds can be stored upto 13 months under proper storage conditions.

Crop diseases and pests managementThere are no major problems of disease and

pest incidence in little millet. However, the shootfly incidence is severe in some years which could be controlled by applying carbafuron, preferably alongwith azotobacter bio-fertilizer. Soil application of phorate 1 kg a. i/ha in furrow is also effective in checking shootfly infestation.

Rust, caused by Uromyces linearis is reported from India, Sri Lanka and Philippines Islands and it is a minor disease.

millet seed technology - indian institute of millets research · indian institute of millets...

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