Morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet (<i>Elusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm in Sri Lanka

Finger millet, a self-pollinated cereal crop with high nutritional value, is grown in arid and semiarid tropics. Plant Genetic Resource Center of Sri Lanka conserves 462 local and introduced finger millet (<em>Elusine coracana</em> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm accessions. A total of 139 access...

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Main Authors: W. M. R. Kumari, D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara, W. M. W. Weerakoon, D. M. J. B. Senanayake, H. D. Upadhyaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya 2018-05-01
Series:Tropical Agricultural Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://tar.sljol.info/articles/8287
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author W. M. R. Kumari
D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara
W. M. W. Weerakoon
D. M. J. B. Senanayake
H. D. Upadhyaya
author_facet W. M. R. Kumari
D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara
W. M. W. Weerakoon
D. M. J. B. Senanayake
H. D. Upadhyaya
author_sort W. M. R. Kumari
collection DOAJ
description Finger millet, a self-pollinated cereal crop with high nutritional value, is grown in arid and semiarid tropics. Plant Genetic Resource Center of Sri Lanka conserves 462 local and introduced finger millet (<em>Elusine coracana</em> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm accessions. A total of 139 accessions were morphological characterized using 14 quantitative characters during two seasons in late Maha 2016 and Maha 2016/17 at Field Crops Research and Development, Institute, Mahailluppallama. The highest variability was observed in grain yield, panicle exertion, weight of 20 mature ears, number of productive tillers and length of the longest finger. Correlation analysis showed that the grain yield was significantly and positively correlated with the number of productive tillers, weight of 20 mature ears, threshing ratio and panicle exertion. However, the grain yield was significantly and negatively correlated with flag leaf width and 1,000 grain weight. Hence, these traits can be used for selecting germplasm for improvement. The Principal Component Analysis showed that the first six principal components with eigenvalue greater than 0.8 have contributed to 78% of total variability. Eight different clusters were formed in cluster analysis based on first six principal component scores. Two major clusters (1 and 3) were consisted with 55% of total accessions. The main traits contributed to separate genotypes into different clusters were grain yield, weight of 20 mature ears, days to 50% flowering and 1000 grain weight. The Sri Lankan finger millet germplasm collection exhibited the similar variability with global finger millet germplasm collections. Hence, the variability shown in characterization can be used effectively for finger millet improvement in Sri Lanka.
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spelling doaj.art-4c1460211bb64f508f8e90b7eea801712022-12-21T23:51:57ZengPostgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of PeradeniyaTropical Agricultural Research1016-14222018-05-0129216718310.4038/tar.v29i2.82876190Morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet (<i>Elusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm in Sri LankaW. M. R. Kumari0D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara1W. M. W. Weerakoon2D. M. J. B. Senanayake3H. D. Upadhyaya4Field Crops Research and Development Institute, MahailuppallamaUniversity of PeradeniyaMinistry of Agriculture, Rajamalwaththa Road, BattaramullaDepartment of Agriculture, GannoruwaInstitute of International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid TropicsFinger millet, a self-pollinated cereal crop with high nutritional value, is grown in arid and semiarid tropics. Plant Genetic Resource Center of Sri Lanka conserves 462 local and introduced finger millet (<em>Elusine coracana</em> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm accessions. A total of 139 accessions were morphological characterized using 14 quantitative characters during two seasons in late Maha 2016 and Maha 2016/17 at Field Crops Research and Development, Institute, Mahailluppallama. The highest variability was observed in grain yield, panicle exertion, weight of 20 mature ears, number of productive tillers and length of the longest finger. Correlation analysis showed that the grain yield was significantly and positively correlated with the number of productive tillers, weight of 20 mature ears, threshing ratio and panicle exertion. However, the grain yield was significantly and negatively correlated with flag leaf width and 1,000 grain weight. Hence, these traits can be used for selecting germplasm for improvement. The Principal Component Analysis showed that the first six principal components with eigenvalue greater than 0.8 have contributed to 78% of total variability. Eight different clusters were formed in cluster analysis based on first six principal component scores. Two major clusters (1 and 3) were consisted with 55% of total accessions. The main traits contributed to separate genotypes into different clusters were grain yield, weight of 20 mature ears, days to 50% flowering and 1000 grain weight. The Sri Lankan finger millet germplasm collection exhibited the similar variability with global finger millet germplasm collections. Hence, the variability shown in characterization can be used effectively for finger millet improvement in Sri Lanka.https://tar.sljol.info/articles/8287characterization, finger millet, germplasm, morphological traits
spellingShingle W. M. R. Kumari
D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara
W. M. W. Weerakoon
D. M. J. B. Senanayake
H. D. Upadhyaya
Morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet (<i>Elusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm in Sri Lanka
Tropical Agricultural Research
characterization, finger millet, germplasm, morphological traits
title Morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet (<i>Elusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm in Sri Lanka
title_full Morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet (<i>Elusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm in Sri Lanka
title_fullStr Morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet (<i>Elusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm in Sri Lanka
title_full_unstemmed Morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet (<i>Elusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm in Sri Lanka
title_short Morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet (<i>Elusine coracana</i> (L.) Gaertn) germplasm in Sri Lanka
title_sort morphological characterization of local and introduced finger millet i elusine coracana i l gaertn germplasm in sri lanka
topic characterization, finger millet, germplasm, morphological traits
url https://tar.sljol.info/articles/8287
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