Assessment of morpho-physiological variability and yield potential in diverse pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] germplasm across arid environments of Rajasthan

Abstract

Pearl millet is a critical staple crop in the arid and semi-arid tropics, yet systematic characterization of genetic variability among diverse germplasm under multi-environment conditions remains limited. This study assessed genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and trait associations among 300 diverse pearl millet genotypes evaluated across three locations for two years at Jodhpur, Nagaur and Bikaner during the Kharif seasons of 2022 and 2023. Twelve morphological and physiological traits were evaluated. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant genotypic variation across all traits, confirming substantial genetic variability in the germplasm. Grain yield per plant exhibited high heritability (80.0%) with a genetic advance of 48.1%, supporting the feasibility of yield improvement. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations of grain yield with dry panicle weight (r=0.968), 1000-seed weight (r=0.992) and chlorophyll content (r=0.116), identifying these as reliable selection criteria. These findings collectively establish a robust empirical basis for multi-trait selection incorporating both morphological and physiological parameters to accelerate genetic gains in pearl millet improvement programmes targeting stress-prone arid environments.