| Summary: | Proso millet and Little millet belong to group of small millets and family poaceae. Flower opening in these crops are
chasmogamous type, in which pollination takes place prior to opening of flowers. Hence, self pollination predominates. So,
to create variability, hybridization is prerequisite. Because of self pollination and non availability of male sterility,
emasculation is necessary for crossing. There are many emasculation and crossing methods like contact method, hot water
treatment, hand emasculation and USSR method which are used in these crops. But the disadvantage in these methods is
damage to stigma this reduces the success rate of obtaining true F1’s. To overcome all these problems of earlier methods, in
our present study, we proposed the modified crossing (SMUASB) method. In this method, cold water of 5-80C is sprayed on
the panicle as a mechanical stimulator for opening of florets in male and female panicles. For emasculation, female panicle is
gently washed in cold water. This will not affect stigma and its receptivity. All florets which are already fertilized and not
opened immature florets are removed before pollination. Hence, success rate of obtaining true F1s is more and less land and
resources are required for evaluation of F1’s. Using SMUASB method, we attempted crosses in Little millet and Proso millet
and the success rate observed was 56% and 60% respectively.
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