A HIGH YIELDING DOWNY MILDEW RESISTANT PEARL MILLET HYBRID GHB-732 FOR GUJARAT, INDIA

GHB-732 (Gujarat Hybrid Bajra-732), a new pearl millet hybrid was developed by crossing the male sterile line ICMA 96222 and restorer line J-2340. The hybrid was evaluated at 15 and 4 locations during kharif and summer seasons, respectively, over four years in Gujarat. The average grain yield of GHB-732 was recorded 30.02 and 50.37 q/ha under kharif rainfed and summer irrigated conditions, respectively. The GHB-732 has recorded 11.50 and 51.90 per cent higher grain yield than check hybrids GHB-558 and MH-169, respectively under kharif rainfed conditions. Under summer irrigated conditions, it has registered 14.77, 13.20 and 21.66 per cent higher grain yield over the check hybrids viz., GHB-538, GHB-558 and GHB-526 in that order. The hybrid GHB-732 has got attractive seed colour, acceptable seed size, appealing ear head, mid-late maturity, high downy mildew resistance and high grain yield potential as compare to check hybrids. Hence, it was recommended for general cultivation during the kharif and summer seasons in Gujarat state.