Vol. 8, Issue 8, Part Q (2024)

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is a vital cereal crop widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions due to its adaptability and high nutritional value. In this study, two hundred and ninety recombinant inbred lines of pearl millet were evaluated to investigate quantitative traits and blast resistance across two environments, Patancheru (ENV-I) and Vizianagaram (ENV-II). Principal Component Analysis identified 14 Principal Components (PCs), with the first five explaining 65.50%, 59.00%, and 65.35% of the total variance under ENV-I, ENV-II and pooled conditions respectively. The analysis revealed that the Blast Score positively contributed to the first Principal Component (PC1), while Stem Girth showed a positive contribution exclusively in ENV-II. Conversely, traits such as Days to 50% Flowering, Days to Maturity, Panicle Length, Panicle Diameter, Plant Stand, Plant Height, Number of Leaves, Harvest Index, Seed Yield, Thousand Seed Weight, Number of Tillers, and Number of Productive Tillers negatively influenced the PC1 across ENV-I, ENV-II, and pooled conditions, with Stem Girth being the exception in ENV-II. Additionally, the observed 1:1 ratio of resistant to susceptible lines under glasshouse conditions suggests that resistance to blast disease in the pearl millet population is likely controlled by a single monogenic factor. This comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of the genetic and agronomic interactions in pearl millet, providing valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at improving both disease resistance and crop performance.