Diversity in pearl millet germplsm from Sudan

Out of 589 pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) germplasm accessions from Sudan assembled at ICRISAT Asia Center, Patancheru, 581 were evaluated for morphological and agronomical characters during the rainy and postrainy seasons. The infloresences were small, thin with small corneous grain. Almost all defined spike shapes and grain shapes were found indicating considerable diversity in the germplasm from Sudan. The unique feature of 40 per cent yellow grain germplasm which is a rich source for carotene serves as a genetic base to develop improved cultivars with yellow grain. As most of the accessions produce several thin stems with high biomass, they are useful to breed forage types.