Pearl Millet Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The study relates village seed systems to biological diversity of millet crops grown by farmers in the semi-arid lands of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, India. In these subsistence-oriented, semi-arid production systems the environment is... more

The study relates village seed systems to biological diversity of millet crops grown by farmers in the semi-arid lands of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, India. In these subsistence-oriented, semi-arid production systems the environment is marginal for crop growth and often there is no substitute for millet crops. Across communities, farmers grow 13 different combinations of pearl millet, sorghum, finger millet, little millet, and foxtail millet varieties, but individual farmers grow an average of only 2–3 millet varieties per season. The “village seed system” in this study refers to all channels through which farmers acquire genetic materials, separate from or in interaction with the commercial seed industry, observed at the local level. Data are compiled through household surveys and interviews with traders and dealers in village and district markets. Based on the concept of the seed lot, several seed system parameters are defined and measured by millet crop. Most seed transactions, including gifts of seed, appear to be monetized. Seed supply channels differ by improvement status of the genetic material. Regression results confirm that seed system parameters are statistically significant determinants of the spatial diversity of millet crops measured at the village level. Furthermore, both the trade through weekly village markets (shandies) and through the formal seed supply channel contribute positively to the breadth of genetic materials in these communities. Ways should be found to strengthen and improve the overall efficiency of the seed system, including both formal and informal channels, in order to reduce the costs to farmers of procuring and managing diverse crop varieties.

The seeds of thirteen varieties of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)) were evaluated for enzyme activity in response to sulphate base salinity. Sterilized seeds were safely maintain in filter paper lined Petri dishes and irrigated... more

The seeds of thirteen varieties of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)) were evaluated for enzyme activity in response to sulphate base salinity. Sterilized seeds were safely maintain in filter paper lined Petri dishes and irrigated with water or salt solution (00, 40, 80, 120 m.eq/L). Practice was maintained for the filter paper kept moist by periodic additions of salt solution or water for the required treatments. The research carried out on sulphate dominant salinity. Enzymatic study protease and peroxidase activity increased with increase in salinity, while in case alfa amylase activity, it decreased with increasing salinity level. There was significant interacting effect between salinity treatments and varieties of pearl millet with respect to enzyme activities.

Genotypic and phenotypic variability, heritability, genetic advance for grain yield and different quantitative characters were conducted in ten genotypes of pearl millet. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance for plant... more

Genotypic and phenotypic variability, heritability, genetic advance for grain yield and different quantitative characters
were conducted in ten genotypes of pearl millet. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance for plant height,
grain yield and panicle length revealed the influence of additive gene effect is important in determining these
characters. High heritability with low genetic advance for number of tillers per plant, inter nodal length and days to
50% flowering indicated the influence of dominant and epistatic genes for these attributes. Grain yield had positive and
significant correlation with number of tillers per plant and panicle length.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolar (L.) R. Br.] is a drought-tolerant crop that may serve as an alternative summer crop in the dry region of Zimbabwe. A field experiment was conducted in 2002 at Matopos Research Station, Makoholi Research station,... more

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolar (L.) R. Br.] is a drought-tolerant crop that may serve as an alternative summer crop in the dry region of Zimbabwe. A field experiment was conducted in 2002 at Matopos Research Station, Makoholi Research station, Kadoma Research station, Mlezu, and Gwebi variety testing center to determine the yield response of sorghum varieties to sowing date. Three sowing dates were used: (i) early, (ii) medium, and (iii) late, and the dates were 6 December 2002, 20 December 2002 and 03 January 2003 respectively. Red Swazi, SV-1, SV-2, SV-3, SV4 which are improved early maturing varieties and Chibonda which is late maturing and local variety were used in the trial. There was significant differences(p<0.05) between the three sowing dates which were used in the experiment with the first sowing giving an average of 890kg/ha and subsequent second and third sowing resulting in 574kg/ha and 399kg/ha respectively. There was also significant differences with P<0.05 in stover yield due to sowing date, the highest yield was 5 577 kg/ha from the second sowing than first and third sowing yields of 4 335 kg/ha and 3972 kg/Ha respectively.

In this study, an attempt has been made to suggest crop diversification based on soil and weather requirements of different crops. State level spatial databases of various agro-physical parameters such as rainfall, soil texture,... more

In this study, an attempt has been made to suggest crop diversification based on soil and weather requirements of different crops. State level spatial databases of various agro-physical parameters such as rainfall, soil texture, physiography and problem soil along with the agricultural area derived from remote sensing data were integrated using GIS. A raster based modelling approach was followed to arrive at suitable zones for practicing different cropping systems. The results showed that the south-western Punjab is suitable for low water requiring crops such as desi cotton, pearl millet, gram etc., where as north-eastern Punjab with high rainfall and excess drainage should practice maize based cropping system. Rice can be substituted by maize and other crops in Central Punjab, where water table is going down fast. Using this approach the area of rice based cropping system can be reduced from present 24.7 lakh ha to 19.6 lakh ha, thereby reducing the degradation of valuable land and water resources.

A field experiment was carried out during Kharif season of 2009 to study the effect of integrated nitrogen management through vermicompost, urea and Azotobacter on yield and economic of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend.... more

A field experiment was carried out during Kharif season of 2009 to study the effect of
integrated nitrogen management through vermicompost, urea and Azotobacter on yield and economic of
pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stuntz]. The result revealed that application of 100
per cent RDN (75% through urea and 25% through vermicompost) significantly increased the growth,
yield attributing characters and yield of pearl millet however, it was at par with 100 per cent RDN
through urea. Inoculation of seed with Azotobacter also resulted significantly higher plant height at time
of harvest, yield attributing characters and yield. Interaction effect between nitrogen management and biofertilizer
was found significant in case of grain and straw yield. Application of 100 per cent RDN through
75 per cent urea and 25 per cent vermicompost along with seed treatment with Azotobacter recorded
higher grain and straw yield however, the straw yield was at par with that of treatment 100 per cent RDN
through urea with Azotobacter inoculation. Same treatment recorded higher net return and benefit : cost
ratio.

Sixteen translocation stocks developed in pearl millet, Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) S.&H. (2 n = 14) were inter-crossed and the meiotic configurations of f1's analysed. A translocation tester set comprising five translocation stocks,... more

Sixteen translocation stocks developed in pearl millet, Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) S.&H. (2 n = 14) were inter-crossed and the meiotic configurations of f1's analysed. A translocation tester set comprising five translocation stocks, each involving two non-homologous chromosomes has been developed.

A field experiment was conducted at A1CRPDA Centre, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar to find out the effect of integrated nutrient management practices in pearl millet crop under rainfed condition. The results showed that... more

A field experiment was conducted at A1CRPDA Centre, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar to find
out the effect of integrated nutrient management practices in pearl millet crop under rainfed condition. The
results showed that the effect of bio-fertilizers were not found significant in increasing the yield as well as soil
available nutrients after harvest of the crop during all the years and on pooled basis. The treatment 50% N
through urea + 50% N through FYM gave significantly higher seed yield of 1239, 822, 868, 972 and 975 kg ha-
1 during years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 as well as in pooled, respectively. The similar trend was also observed in
fodder yield. In terms of soil available nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, the treatment 50% N through urea +
50% N through FYM obtained significant improvement in soil fertility status of available N (174 kg/ha), phosphorus
(48 kg/ha) and potash (204.8 kg/ha).

Whole pearl millet, finger millet and decorticated soy bean blended (millet soy) extrudates formulations were designed using a linear programming (LP) model to minimize the total cost of the finished product. LP formulated composite flour... more

Whole pearl millet, finger millet and decorticated soy bean blended (millet soy) extrudates formulations were designed using a linear programming (LP) model to minimize the total cost of the finished product. LP formulated composite flour was extruded through twin screw food extruder at different feed rate (6.5–13.5 kg/h), screw speed (200–350 rpm, constant feed moisture (14% wb), barrel temperature (120 °C) and cutter speed (15 rpm). The physical, functional, textural and pasting characteristics of extrudates were examined and their responses were studied. Expansion index (2.31) and sectional expansion index (5.39) was found to be was found maximum for feed rate and screw speed combination 9.5 kg/h and 250 rpm. However, density (0.25 × 10−3 g/mm3) was maximum for 9.5 kg/h and 300 rpm combination. Maximum color change (10.32) was found for 9.5 kg/h feed rate and 200 rpm screw speed. The lower hardness was obtained for the samples extruded at lowest feed rate (6.5 kg/h) for all screw speed and feed rate at 9.5 kg/h for 300–350 rpm screw speed. Peak viscosity decreases with all screw speed of 9.5 kg/h feed rate.

To assess the effect of milling speeds on shelf-life and proximate composition of fl our, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), one of the most extensively grown type of millet was selected. Pearl millet fl our was prepared using low speed... more

To assess the effect of milling speeds on shelf-life and proximate composition of fl our, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), one of the most extensively grown type of millet was selected. Pearl millet fl our was prepared using low speed mini fl our mill at 75 and 115 rpm and the results were compared with the fl our prepared using commercial fl our mill. The performance of fl our mill was evaluated on the basis of recovery of fl our, rise in temperature of fl our a er milling, time taken for milling, particle size distribution and diff erent quality parameters viz., moisture, protein, crude fat, ash, fi ber, carbohydrates and free fa y acids (FFA). The whole pearl millet fl our was packed in high density polyethylene (HDPE), lower density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic jars and stored for 50 days at ambient conditions. The recovery of fl our was the the higher (95.26%) at 75 rpm speed than at 115 rpm although the time taken was more i.e. 25 min. but the rise in temperature during milling was very less (13.45 o C) as compared to the commercial mill where the temperature rose upto 36.5 o C. The moisture content and FFA increased signifi cantly (P<0.05), whereas the protein, fat and ash content decreased signifi cantly (P<0.05) with increase in storage time. Further, the moisture content, FFA, crude protein and fat content were aff ected signifi cantly (P<0.05) whereas, the fi ber and ash contents were eff ected non-signifi cant (P<0.05) by both the storage time and packaging material. The pearl millet fl our prepared at low speed (rpm) was light brown in color as compared to higher speed (rpm) which was dark brown. Pearl millet fl our prepared at 75 rpm and stored in low density polyethylene LDPE packaging material of (200 gauge) was found the best in quality among those milled at 115 rpm and 400 rpm, followed by packaging HDPE packs.

Imprints of domesticated pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) spikelets, observed as temper in ceramics dating to the third millennium BC, provide the earliest evidence for the cultivation and domestication process of this crop... more

Imprints of domesticated pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) spikelets, observed as temper in ceramics dating to the third millennium BC, provide the earliest evidence for the cultivation and domestication process of this crop in northern Mali. Additional sherds from the same region dating to the fifth and fourth millennium BC were examined and found to have pearl millet chaff with wild morphologies. In addition to studying sherds by stereomicroscopy and subjecting surface casts to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we also deployed X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) on eleven sherds. This significantly augmented the total dataset of archaeological pearl millet chaff remains from which to document the use of the wild pearl millet as ceramic temper and the evolution of its morphology over time. Grain sizes were also estimated from spikelets preserved in the ceramics. Altogether, we are now able to chart the evolution of domesticated pearl millet in western Africa usi...

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a major staple food crop in the drier parts of the old world, like Africa and India. Recently, its cultivation became more widespread in no tillage crop farming systems in central Brazil, but it is... more

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a major staple food crop in the drier parts of the old world, like Africa and India. Recently, its cultivation became more widespread in no tillage crop farming systems in central Brazil, but it is also being used for cultivation during the dry season in other areas in Brazil. An emerging problem for the wider adoption of this crop in Brazil is the damage caused by the rust Puccinia substriata. This fungal disease is among the worst limitations for this crop worldwide. The rust occurring in Brazil was initially identified as the P. substriata var. penicillariae, but little information on the taxonomy and life-cycle of this rust is available in Brazil. The life-cycle of this rust variety remains somewhat obscure and the connection between the telial stage on pearl millet and the aecial stage on Solanaceae has never been experimentally demonstrated. Natural infection and inoculations under controlled conditions allowed for a complete description of all stages of this rust and the elucidation of its life-cycle, confirming that Solanum aethiopicum and Solanum melongena are aecial hosts. This coincidence for the alternate host and the limited and ambiguous morphological basis for the distinction of the varieties penicillariae and indica support the view that they are synonyms. Var. indica should be regarded as a late synonym of var. penicillariae.

Rice flour was added in different proportions (10 - 30%) to dehydrated carrot pomace and pulse powder (CPPP) mixture having equal ratio. The formulation was extruded at different moisture content (17 - 21%), screw speed (270 - 310 rpm)... more

Rice flour was added in different proportions (10 - 30%) to dehydrated carrot pomace and pulse powder
(CPPP) mixture having equal ratio. The formulation was extruded at different moisture content (17 -
21%), screw speed (270 - 310 rpm) and die temperature (110 - 130°C). The lateral expansion, bulk
density, water absorption index, water solubility index, hardness and sensory characteristics were
measured as responses. Significant regression models were established with the coefficient of
determination, R2 greater than 0.72. The results indicated that CPPP proportion and moisture content
significantly influenced (P < 0.10) lateral expansion; temperature for water absorption index; screw
speed and temperature for hardness and screw speed for sensory score. The compromised optimum
condition obtained by numerical integration for development of extrudates were: CPPP mixture of
16.5% in rice flour, moisture content 19.23%, screw speed 310 rpm and die temperature 110°C. Sensory
evaluation revealed that carrot pomace could be incorporated into ready-to-eat expanded products upto
the level of 8.25%

The effect of Melody Duo 66.75 wp was assayed on pearl millet downy mildew (PMDM). This novel fungicide, a combined preparation of iprovalicarb and propineb, controlled all developmental stages of Sclerospora graminicola. The protective... more

The effect of Melody Duo 66.75 wp was assayed on pearl millet downy mildew (PMDM). This novel fungicide, a combined preparation of iprovalicarb and propineb, controlled all developmental stages of Sclerospora graminicola. The protective effect of this preparation was due to iprovalicarb and was equipotent to metalaxyl-containing Apron 35 sd and Ridomil 72 MZ wp. whereas the eradicant activity of Melody Duo exceeded that of the two latters at comparative doses. Iprovalicarb was translocated acropetally and exhibited systemically an excellent curative activity. The downy mildewed pearl millet plants recovered after foliar treatments with the preparations. The exploitation of Melody Duo 66.75 wp is recommended against pearl millet downy mildew disease.

" Fura " is known to have originated from Hausa/Fulani and is produced mainly from most flour, blended with species, compressed into balls and boiled for thirty minutes, while still hot, the cooked dough is worked through in the mortar... more

" Fura " is known to have originated from Hausa/Fulani and is produced mainly from most flour, blended with species, compressed into balls and boiled for thirty minutes, while still hot, the cooked dough is worked through in the mortar with the pestle(with addition of hot water), until a smooth, slightly elastic cohesive lump fura is formed. This study was carried out to improve the nutritional quality of fura, a millet-based flour food by adding bambara nut flour. Pearl millet (Pennisetumglau-cum) and bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) were cleaned, dry milled and sieved to produced fura flour. The bambara groundnut flour was substituted into the pearl millet flour at ratio (0-30 %); and mixed with spices. This was conditioned using 1.5L of tap water to improve molding. The sample were analyzed for chemical, functional, microbial and sensory properties. The data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA (p<0.05). Results showed that carbohydrate, protein, crude fiber, water absorption, and viscosity ranged between, 75.53 ± 0.08 to 80.58 ± 0.08, 7.27 ± 0.01 to 7.85 ± 0.01, 0.23 ± 0.01 to 1.12 ± 0.01, 2.47 ± 0.02 to 0.89 ± 0.02, 493.00 ± 4.24 to 311.50 ± 0.71 while sensory evaluation showed that sample BYS was most acceptable. This study showed improvement in the qualities of fura enriched with bambara groundnut.

Pearl millet is an important component of food security in the semi-arid tropics and is assuming greater importance in the context of changing climate and increasing demand for highly nutritious food and feed. Molecular tools have been... more

Pearl millet is an important component of food security in the semi-arid tropics and is assuming greater importance in the context of changing climate and increasing demand for highly nutritious food and feed. Molecular tools have been developed and applied for pearl millet on a limited scale. However, the existing tool kit needs to be strengthened further for its routine use in applied breeding programs. Here, we report enrichment of the pearl millet molecular linkage map by exploiting low-cost and high-throughput Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) markers. Genomic representation from 95 diverse genotypes was used to develop a DArT array with circa 7,000 clones following PstI/BanII complexity reduction. This array was used to genotype a set of 24 diverse pearl millet inbreds and 574 polymorphic DArT markers were identified. The genetic relationships among the inbred lines as revealed by DArT genotyping were in complete agreement with the available pedigree data. Further, a mapping population of 140 F7Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) from cross H 77/833-2 × PRLT 2/89-33 was genotyped and an improved linkage map was constructed by integrating DArT and SSR marker data. This map contains 321 loci (258 DArTs and 63 SSRs) and spans 1148 cM with an average adjacent-marker interval length of 3.7 cM. The length of individual linkage groups (LGs) ranged from 78 cM (LG 3) to 370 cM (LG 2). This better-saturated map provides improved genome coverage and will be useful for genetic analyses of important quantitative traits. This DArT platform will also permit cost-effective background selection in marker-assisted backcrossing programs as well as facilitate comparative genomics and genome organization studies once DNA sequences of polymorphic DArT clones are available.

INTRODUCTION Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a major coarse-grained cereal, grown primarily for grain production on 26 million ha in the arid and semi-arid tropical regions of Asia and Africa. It is an important source of... more

INTRODUCTION Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a major coarse-grained cereal, grown primarily for grain production on 26 million ha in the arid and semi-arid tropical regions of Asia and Africa. It is an important source of dietary energy and nutritional security for millions of people in these regions. Research has shown that pearl millet is the cheapest source of Fe and Zn (Parthasarathy et al. 2006). A large variability has been found for these micronutrients in improved populations and breeding lines (Velu et al. 2006). The objective of this study was to understand the nature of gene action to develop effective breeding strategies for these micronutrients. METHODS Ten inbred lines with varying grain Zn content and 90 F 1 hybrids (including reciprocals) derived from diallel crosses were evaluated in a randomised complete block design with three replications in 2-row plots of 4 m length during the 2005 rainy and 2006 dry seasons in Patancheru, India. Sib-mated grain...

Background: Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), considered a poor man’s cereal, may be a repository of dietary antioxidants, especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, which provide bioactive mechanisms to reduce free radical induced... more

Background: Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), considered a poor man’s cereal, may be a repository of dietary antioxidants, especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, which provide bioactive mechanisms to reduce free radical induced oxidative stress and probably play a role in the prevention of ageing and various diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases.Objective: The present study focused on the identification of individual flavonoids and phenolic acids from seven commercial varieties of pearl millet and five samples of pearl millet-based traditional recipes of Banaskantha, Gujarat, India.Methods: Total phenols were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and individual polyphenol separation included the isolation and identification of (a) flavonoids, (b) phenolic acids, and (c) glycoflavones involving interaction with diagnostic reagents and paper chromatographic separation of compounds and their UV-visible spectros...

Soil fertility and climate risks are hampering crop production in the Sahelian region. Because experiments with only a few fertility management options on a limited number of sites and years cannot fully capture the complex and highly... more

Soil fertility and climate risks are hampering crop production in the Sahelian region. Because experiments with only a few fertility management options on a limited number of sites and years cannot fully capture the complex and highly non-linear soil–climate–crop interactions, crop growth simulation models may suitably complement experimental research to support decision making regarding soil fertility and water management. By

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an alternative drought-tolerant grain crop for dryland summer production. Few insecticides are registered for use and insect management has not been extensively studied in pearl millet for... more

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an alternative drought-tolerant grain crop for dryland summer production. Few insecticides are registered for use and insect management has not been extensively studied in pearl millet for grain production. Eleven trails were conducted during 2002-2004 in central and southern Georgia to understand the relative importance of insect pests and to evaluate the efficacy of currently registered insecticides against key pests. The main defoliator species were the fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)] and striped grassworm (Mocis latipes Guenée). Main insects feeding on grain heads were the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie), sorghum webworm, (Nola sorghiella Riley), and stink bugs — brown stink bug (Euschistus spp.) and southern green stink bug [Nezara viridula (L.)]. All insects were effectively controlled by cypermethrin at 0.025 lb a.i./acre. The 0.015-lb a.i. rate was effective against sorghum webworm, striped grassworm, ...

Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) are important plant cell wall components involved in plant defense response to pathogen attack. In the present study, a resistant pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) cultivar, IP18292, was compared... more

Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) are important plant cell wall components involved in plant defense response to pathogen attack. In the present study, a resistant pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) cultivar, IP18292, was compared with a susceptible cultivar, 7042S, to investigate the contribution of HRGPs in the successful defense against the phytopathogenic oomycete S. graminicola. Northern hybridization using MeHRGP cDNA, a heterologous probe from cassava, indicated steady accumulation of HRGP transcripts, from 2 h.p.i. onwards with a maximum at 6 h.p.i., in the resistant cultivar. This is followed by HRGPs accumulation at about 8 h.p.i. as revealed by Western-blot analysis. Immunocytochemical localization by tissue printing and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy indicated cell walls of parenchymatic cells and the vascular tissue of coleoptile as sites of HRGP deposition. In vitro studies in the presence of horseradish peroxidase and H2O2 showed cross-linking of pearl millet HRGPs, which occurred parallel to isodityrosine accumulation. Inducible high isodityrosine content was also observed in vivo in the resistant cultivar. Here, H2O2 was found to accumulate as twin burst at 1 and 6 h.p.i., whereas in the susceptible cultivar only an early single peak was detectable. Moreover, the amount of hydroxyproline in HRGPs was about twice as high in the resistant as in the susceptible cultivar. These results suggest that cell wall strengthening in S. graminicola-infected resistant pearl millet is brought about by a combination of polypeptide cross-linking of isodityrosine as well as by the high content of hydroxyproline in HRGPs, and H2O2, in contrast to the susceptible plant.

The disposal of sugar mill effluent has become a major problem in India due to generation of huge volume of effluent. The value of wastewater for crop production has been recognized in many countries, including India. The effluents not... more

The disposal of sugar mill effluent has
become a major problem in India due to generation of huge
volume of effluent. The value of wastewater for crop production has been recognized in many countries, including
India. The effluents not only contain nutrients that stimulate
growth of many crops, but also may have various toxic
chemicals, metals, metallic oxides along with nitrogenous
and phosphate compounds, which may affect various agronomical characteristics of crop plants. The present investigation was conducted to asses the agro-potentiality of agrobased sugar mill effluent as ferti-irrigant, and an alternative
of irrigation water. Six plots were selected for six treatments
of sugar mill effluent viz. 0 % (control), 20, 40, 60, 80, and
100 % for the fertigation of Pennisetum glaucum L., cv.
Nandi 35. P. glaucum was grown, fertigated with effluent till
harvest and effect of effluent fertigation on the soil and
agronomical characteristics of P. glaucum were analyzed.
Results The fertigant concentration produced changes in
electrical conductivity (EC), pH, organic carbon (OC),
sodium (Na?), potassium (K?), calcium (Ca2?), magnesium
(Mg2?), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), phosphate (PO43-),
sulfate (SO42-), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr),
copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) of the soil in
both seasons. The agronomic performance of P. glaucum
increased from 20 to 40 % in both seasons compared to
controls. The accumulation of heavy metals increased in soil
and P. glaucum from 20 to 100 % sugar mill effluent concentrations in both seasons. Biochemical components like crude proteins, crude fiber, and crude carbohydrates were
found maximum with 40 % sugar mill effluent in both
seasons. The contamination factor (Cf) of various metals
were in the order of Mn[ Zn[ Cu[ Cd[ Cr for soil and
Mn[ Zn[ Cu[ Cr[ Cd for P. glaucum in both seasons
after fertigation with sugar mill effluent. Sugar mill effluent
irrigation increased nutrients in the soil and affected the
growth of P. glaucum in both seasons.
Conclusions It appears that sugar mill effluent can be
used as a biofertigant after appropriate dilution to improve
yield of P. glaucum.

We studied the regional genetic diversity and seed exchange dynamics of pearl millet landraces in south-western Niger. The genetic study was based on AFLP markers. We found significant genetic differentiation between landraces in... more

We studied the regional genetic diversity and seed exchange dynamics of pearl millet landraces in south-western Niger. The genetic study was based on AFLP markers. We found significant genetic differentiation between landraces in different geographical areas of south-western Niger. However, the degree of differentiation was low insofar as only 1.9% of the total molecular diversity was due to regional differentiation, suggesting a relatively high gene flow. Anthropologic studies on farming practices have suggested that seed exchanges between farmers on a large geographical scale probably make a considerable contribution to this result. In order to test this hypothesis, the effects of seed exchange on the genetic diversity of landraces was analyzed on seed samples from two distant villages in contrasting areas of south-western Niger. Seeds imported by farmers into the southern village of Sina Koara did not differ significantly from locally grown landraces. By contrast, in the northern village of Alzou, several samples were genetically different from locally grown landraces and closer to southern accessions. These data suggest that the seed flow is preferentially from south to north, i.e. from an area with more favorable rainfall conditions. The potential consequences for the genetic diversity and adaptation of northern pearl millet landraces are discussed.