Ultrastructural characterization of pearl millet cytoplasms

The three cytoplasms of pearl millet with single nuclear genotype, L110 (S1), L110 (S2) and L110 (S3) were examined under electron microscope for ultrastructural cytoplasmic variations. Differences among three cytoplasms were observed and it was noted that each cytoplasm showed its structural superiority over the other two in some traits, but showed its inferiority to others in some other ultrastructural traits. This indicated the possibility of improvement and developing commercial lines in S2 and S3 cytoplasms with productivity almost equal to the level of the lines, and hybrids in S1 cytoplasm generally prevalent in India, thus, diversifying cytoplasmic base of the crop.