High Yielding Variety Bred through Recombinant Breeding Technology in Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea. L)
Nagappa Govanakoppa
Fodder Research and Production Unit, UAS, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
Anitha, S.
UAS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Jagadeesh, B. R.
UAS, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
Jakir Hussain, K. N. *
UAS, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Breeding efforts for barnyard millet commenced in the 2009-10 kharif season, focusing on crossing various genotypes. Selection began in the F2 generation and continued until stabilization was achieved by the F5 or F6 generation, requiring a minimum of 6 to 9 seasons to bred high-yielding genotypes with insect and disease tolerance. The result is DHBM-23-3, a medium-maturing barnyard millet variety bred at ARS, Hanumanamatti, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. This variety matures with 85 to 90 days and traits an erect growth habit with a height of 131 to 151 cm. The grains are bold, oval-shaped, and gray in color. DHBM-23-3 has demonstrated impressive yields, achieving 24.12 q/ha for grain and 7.4 t/ha for straw, along with a low shoot fly infestation rate of 2.33%. Compared to the national check varieties, VL-172 and VL-207, DHBM-23-3 exhibits a yield advantage of 13.52% and 14.80%, respectively. From 2011 to 2017, DHBM-23-3 consistently surpassed local and national yield benchmarks, achieving an average grain yield of 41.50 q/ha compared to 27.67 q/ha for RAU-11 and 34.06 q/ha for VL-207. Its performance in All India Coordinated Trials showed continued advantages of 17.63% and 9.23% over genotypes, VL-172 and VL-207, respectively underscoring its adaptability to various agro-climatic conditions. The variety also exhibited strong resistance to key diseases and insects, with a low incidence of grain smut (4.73%) and shoot fly infestation (mean of 2.33%), which can help lower pest management costs for farmers. Nutritionally, DHBM-23-3 outperformed national checks in protein (11.68%), calcium (12 mg/kg), zinc (45.1 mg/kg), and iron (16.2 mg/kg), making it an important food source for addressing dietary deficiencies. Morphologically, it possesses attractive traits, including pinkish pigmentation, a sturdy height of 140 cm, and a bold seed size of 2.67 g, which enhances its marketability. DHBM-23-3 combines high yield potential, robust disease resistance, nutritional benefits, and favorable agronomic traits, making it a promising option for sustainable barnyard millet cultivation across India.
Keywords: Recombinant breeding, barnyard millet, high yielding variety, DHBM-23-3, shootfly, grain smut