From ‘pearl’ of millet to ‘gold’ of desert: A popular hybrid emerges improved through genomics-assisted breeding
GHB 538, a popular pearl millet hybrid, was improved through genomics-assisted breeding. Named Maru Sona or desert gold, the revised hybrid has 82 % downy mildew resistance over the original hybrid. The improvement also resulted in an increase in grain (3.5%) and fodder (10.8%) yield, resistance to blast (28.6%) and rust (91.4%) diseases as well as grain protein content (12.5%) while maintaining GHB 538’s hallmark early flowering (44 days). Read more
Setting the stage for hybrid pearl millet research consortium in West Africa
Exciting times ahead as public and private institutions come together to promote millets Seed research stakeholders and representatives of private seed companies Read more...
High-iron pearl millet varieties identified for fast track improvement in Africa
Pearl millet varieties GB 8735 and ICTP 8203 have been selected for fast track improvement and release in Niger, Ghana and Senegal. Read more...