Downy Mildew Reactions of Pearl Millet Lines With and Without Cytoplasmic Male Sterility

Abstract

A total of 2,976 breeding progenies of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) from four different sources possessing male-sterile and normal cytoplasm of the A1 sterile system were evaluated for susceptibility to downy mildew (caused by Sclerospora graminicola) employing an effective field-screening technique. Lines carrying male-sterile cytoplasm were found to be not more susceptible than those with normal cytoplasm, indicating that in pearl millet the A1 male-sterile cytoplasm is not involved in determining susceptibility to downy mildew