Utilization of Molecular Marker Based Genetic Diversity Patterns in Hybrid Parents to Develop Better Forage Quality Multi-Cut Hybrids in Pearl Millet

Govintharaj Ponnaiah, Shashi Kumar Gupta, Michael Blümmel, Maheswaran Marappa, Sumathi Pichaikannu, Roma Rani Das and Abhishek Rathore
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Govintharaj Ponnaiah: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
Shashi Kumar Gupta: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Michael Blümmel: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Patancheru 502 324, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Maheswaran Marappa: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
Sumathi Pichaikannu: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
Roma Rani Das: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Abhishek Rathore: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Agriculture, 2019, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: Genetic diversity of 130 forage-type hybrid parents of pearl millet was investigated based on multiple season data of morphological traits and two type of markers: SSRs (Simple sequence repeats) and GBS identified SNPs (Genotyping by sequencing-Single nucleotide polymorphism). Most of the seed and pollinator parents clustered into two clear-cut separate groups based on marker based genetic distance. Significant variations were found for forage related morphological traits at different cutting intervals (first and second cut) in hybrid parents. Across two cuts, crude protein (CP) varied from 11% to 15%, while in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) varied from 51% to 56%. Eighty hybrids evaluated in multi-location trial along with their parents for forage traits showed that significant heterosis can be realized for forage traits. A low but positive significant correlation found between SSR based genetic distance (GD between parents of hybrid) and heterosis for most of the forage traits indicated that SSR-based GD can be used for predicting heterosis for GFY, DFY and CP in pearl millet. An attempt was made to associate marker-based clusters with forage quality traits, to enable breeders select parents for crossing purposes in forage breeding programs.

Keywords: genetic diversity; markers; forage yield; crude protein; in vitro organic matter digestibility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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