Breeding for biochemical quality traits of pearl millet fodder – A review

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a dual-purpose crop. A number of biochemical characters viz., oxalic acid content, crude protein %, crude fiber %, mineral %, ash %, calcium %, sugar content, fat % etc., have been reported in this crop to cause a great variation in quality of fodder. Various studies revealed that both additive and non additive components of variation were important for an the biochemical characters. Therefore, reciprocal recurrent selection appears to be the best approach for improvement of these biochemical quality traits of fodder in pearl millet. The improved populations developed through reciprocal recurrent selection may be exploited through development of composites and synthetics. The improved population may also be exploited by isolation of superior inbreeds with high SCA for various biochemical parameters. These inbreeds with high SCA may be used to develop hybrids.