The overall goal of this research activity is to enhance pearl millet pro ductivity in West and Central Africa (WCA) through cultivation of high yielding, downy mildew resistant, nutri tious hybrids, contributing to food security, income generation and im proved nutrition.Reaping the benefits of heterosis for yield and quality traits over open pollinated varieties in WCA.

1. • The overall goal of this research activity is to enhance pearl millet
productivity in West and Central Africa (WCA) through cultivation of
high yielding, downy mildew resistant, nutritious hybrids, contributing
to food security, income generation and improved nutrition.
• Reaping the benefits of heterosis for yield and quality traits over open
pollinated varieties in WCA.
• IntroduCtIon
• Preliminary yield testing of experimental single and top cross hybrids
in Niger and Senegal.
• Testing of Fertility/Sterility maintenance in different agro ecological
conditions for A1 & A4 CMS systems of pearl millet across Niger and
Senegal.
• Identification of new restorer inbreeds and top cross parents.
• objeCtIveS
• Test cross of inbred parents and A lines and identification of Fertile
hybrids in CS and RS 2014.
• Production of experimental hybrids through hand pollination in CS
2014-15.
• Preliminary yield testing of 16 single cross and 12 top cross hybrids
in a Randomized block design with 3 replications in 4 locations. Two
locations in Niger, ISC- Sadore and INRAN- Konni and two locations in
Senegal, ISRA – Bambey and Nioro.
• metHodology
• Daye to 50 percent flowering in hybrids range from 50 to 59 days. While
the local and improved varietal checks were 58 to 60 days.
• Average yield of these hybrids across four locations range from 255
g/plot (ICMH IS 14014) to 1727 g/plot (ISMH 2). The phenotypically
superior hybrids yield was about 1400 g/plot for ICMH IS 14003, 1679
g/plot for ICMH IS 14006 and 1698 g/plot for ICMH IS 14015.
• Identified new restorer inbreeds derived from WCA adopted germ-
plasm accessions, ICMR IS 14001, ICMR IS 14002, ICMR IS 14003, ICMR
14004, ICMR IS 14005, ICMR IS 14006, ICMR 14007 and ICMR IS 14008.
• reSultS and ConCluSIonS
• Current and PartnerSHIS future
engagementS for out SCalIng
• Testing of single and top cross hybrids bread at ICRISAT- Niamey, INRAN-
Niger and ISRA- Bambey in Niger and Senegal through partnership.
• Registration of hybrid parents in Niger and Senegal for the hybrids
exceeding > 30% yield advantage over local improved check.
Preliminary yield testing of single and top cross hybrids of pearl millet in Niger and Senegal
Gangashetty, Prakash1*
, Grando Stefania2
, Hash C T1
, Issaka Ahmed3
, Ousmane Sy4
and Tabo, Ramadjita5
1
ICRISAT Sahelian Center, Niamey BP 12404, Niger, 2ICRISAT- Patancheru, Telangana, India, 502 324, 3
INRAN- Kolo and Maradi, Niger,
4
ISRA- Bambey, Senegal and 5
ICRISAT- Bamako, Mali
*Corresponding author email: P.Gangashetty@cgiar.org
Partnership:
• Institute National de la Recherché Agronomique du Niger
(INRAN)- Niger.
• Institute sénégalais de recherché agricoles (ISRA)- Senegal.