A dual purpose, high yielding little millet (Panicum sumatrense) variety ‘GV-4' (Ambika) for cultivation in Gujarat

The little millet variety ‘GV-4' (Ambika) is a pure line selection from the local germplasm collected from the Dang District. A little millet variety ‘GV-4' was tested as a genotype name ‘WV-126'. ‘WV 126' was tested under the various state trials found to be superior for grain yield (2933 kg/ha) by 21.20, 13.78, 44.39 and 31.44 per cent over the existing checks i.e. GV-2 (LC), GNV-3 (LC), CO-2 (NC) and OLM-203 (NC), respectively over thirteen trials and seven years (2014–15 to 2020–21) of study. The genotype matures in 120–125 days includes under medium duration variety. The genotype WV-126 has 9–10 branches per panicle and 35.5 cm average panicle length. It has special attributes of synchronized maturity and non-lodging growth habit. WV-126 is rich in calcium (17.1 mg/100g), protein (12.91 g/100g), fat (3.3%), crude fber (7.5%), carbohydrates (70.40 g/100g) and minerals (2.7 g/100g). It is resistant to blast (leaf, neck and panicle) and moderately resistant to grain smut and sheath blight when compared to local check GV-2 and GV-3 and national check CO-2, OLM-203 and JK-8. A little millet variety ‘GV-4' (Gujarat Vari-4) was released as a new variety for cultivation during kharif under rainfed conditions of Gujarat state.