Pearl Millet (Pennisetum Americanum) Germplasm

The pearl millet, Pennsetum americanum (L.) Leeke, germplasm from Senegal assembled at the ICRISAT Center in Pataneheru includes 258 cultivated, 43 intermediate, and 3 wild accessions. Farmers of Senegal call pearl millet cultivars by different names like souna, sanio and thiotande. The early-maturing sauna type is adapted to low (350–600 mm) rainfall regions of the north, while the late-maturing sanio is adapted to the high (900–1200 mm) rainfall regions of the south. The thiotande type which produces large grains with starchy endosperm is generally grown in backyards. The souna and thiotande flowered in long days also, while sanio iowered only in short days. All the cultivated accessions were classified into seven cultivar groups based on phenology, aristation and spike shape, and a key was developed to identify them. The Senegal germplasm is a good source for long spikes, grain density and grain size, besides long bristles.