Characterization of Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link.) Landraces for Agro-morphological Traits and Disease Resistance

Abstract

Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) is one of the quickest growing minor cereal crop grown by tribal and poor farmers in marginal soils under rainfed conditions. In the present study, 49 land races of barnyard millet were collected from five districts of Madhya Pradesh during 2008-09 and 2009-10 and evaluated for agro-morphological traits and grain smut. Significant variation in all the studied characters was recorded except in days to 50% flowering. Susceptibility index (SI) of grain smut ranging from 0.0 to 15.3 with a mean of 8.45 was recorded. Highest coefficient of variation (CV) was recorded in grain smut (65.3%) followed by number of basal tillers (30.9%) and grain yield plant^-1 (21.2%) where as lowest CV was noted in days to 50% flowering (2.6%).  Quantitative grouping of land races showed that 83.7% land races were erect and 16.3% have prostrate growth habit. Twenty seven land races were semi dwarf and 15 were tall. Low tillering capacity was recorded in 61.2% land races. Majority of land races were medium maturing, medium inflorescence length, medium grain yield per plant and medium test weight. Degree of lodging was observed in all the land races at maturity. Plant height had significant positive correlation with flag leaf length, inflorescence length and SI of grain smut, where as negative correlation was with flag leaf width and grain yield per plant. Strong positive association between length of lower raceme and 1000 grain weight was recorded, while strong negative correlation between length of lower raceme and days to 50% flowering and between days to 50% flowering and 1000 grain weight was observed. Positive correlation between 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant was also noted. Five land races namely -RBM 57, 77, 78, 81 and 82 were completely free and RBM 58 was resistant to grain smut.