Fertility restoration studies involving three diverse cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility systems in Pearl millet

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], hybrids grown widely in India are all based on A(1) CMS source. Though alternative sources of CMS were available and found to be highly stable, their utility is restricted due to non-availability of suitable restorers, The investigation on fertility restoration reaction of the various lines revealed that out of the 105 lines, 38 exhibited satisfactory (> 60 %) seed setting on A(1), 63(50%) on A(4) cytoplasm and 47 lines (44.76 %) on A(5) cytoplasm, acted as restorers. The frequency of restoration on A(4) cytoplasm was quite high compared to A(1) and A(5) indicating the possibility of developing hybrids on A(4) source. Among the three sources of male sterility the seed set percentage was highest on A(1) (78.51) followed by A(4) (76.10) and A(5) (68.72) in kharif season. However, during summer only on A(4) source the seed set per cent was >70%. The proportion of restorers exhibiting >80 % seed set was highest on A(4) followed by A(5) and A(1) across kharif and summer seasons. The mean seed set percentage (across the seasons) on A(4) was highest (73.50 %) followed by on A(1) (71.60%) and 66.60% on A(5).