ADAPTATION AND GRAIN YIELD STABILITY OF PEARL MILLET (Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke) GENOTYPES IN SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, MÉXICO

Abstract

In the state of San Luis Potosí, México, the main limitation for grain crops production is the scarce water availability in the irrigated areas, and the poor and erratic rainfall distribution in the rainfed agriculture. For this reason, alternative crops that could fit limited water resources are required. The objective of this study was to determine the adaptation and grain yield stability of three dwarf hybrids and four normal plant height pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke) open pollinated varieties. Research was carried out at six irrigation and five rainfed environments in the highlands, midlands and lowlands of the state of San Luis Potosí, located at 1880, 1000 and 40 m of altitude, respectively in 2006 and 2007. The genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in each environment. Grain yield, days to maturity, plant height, exertion, harvest index, seed number and seed weight were registered. Estimates of stability parameters for bi and S²_di grain yield were estimated with the Eberhart and Russell methodology. Under irrigated conditions, midlands were the best environments for pearl millet production, followed by lowlands and highlands; while for rainfed environments lowlands were better than midlands and highlands. At the irrigated environments the pearl millet hybrids had higher grain yield stability than open pollinated varieties; in contrast, at the rainfed environments the open pollinated varieties were more stable than hybrids. The variety ‘ICMV-93191’ and the early hybrid ‘68AI x 086R’, which were yield stable throughout the unfavorable environments, could be good alternatives to reduce risks of crop losses in rainfed highlands of the state.