Genetic diversity studies for morphological traits in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) landraces of Northern Nigeria

Genetic variability which is the basic material for selection and improvement of any crop is fast eroding in pearl millet as natural habitats of wild cultivated species are being destroyed and modern cultivars replacing the traditional cultivars. On this premise collection and characterisation of the crop germplasm was carried to identify elite accession(s) for the crop improvement. Thirty five (35) pearl millet accessions collected from the major cultivated states in Nigeria were evaluated for morphological and yield parameters using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with replicate three each. Wide range of significant (P < 0.05) variability was observed in all the morphological characters assessed with different trait been favoured by different genotypes. The highest plant height was recorded in KD-CK-01 (371.85 cm) and the least height in accession NG-ZA-05 with the value of 170.58 cm. Accession NG-ZC-03 had the highest weight of seeds per plot and weight of seeds per hectare with the value of 738.52 g and 1318.78 kg/ha respectively. Phenotypic coefficient of variance was higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient variance for all the traits studied. Moderate (30-60%) to high (>60%) heritability was obtained among the traits studied while genetic advanced ranged from 21.92 to 127.27. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into four major clusters based on their morphological similarity; cluster I consisting 14.29% of the genotypes, 17.14% in cluster II, 40.00% in cluster III and 28.57% were clustered in IV. The high variability recorded in the germplasm couple with high heritability and genetic advance in most of the parameters studied, indicate that the accessions and traits could be explored in the crop improvement.