Agro-morphological characters of little millet (Panicum sumatrense) associated with grain smut incidence

Abstract

Relationship of grain smut incidence with agro-morphological characters was studied in twenty little millet cultivars and significant variations recorded in agro-morphological characters showed the existence of genetic variability in the studied material. Significant positive association of grain smut incidence with grain smut severity (0.771*) and grain smut susceptibility index (0.926*) was recorded. Negative association of grain smut parameters namely grain smut incidence, smut severity and susceptibility index with days to 50% flowering and days to maturity were recorded, which indicates that early maturing cultivars are more susceptible to grain smut. Retarding effect of grain smut incidence on morphological characters of little millet plant was observed. Average reduction in plant height varied 9.3 to 12.5% with a mean of 11.2%, number of tillers plant-1 5.3 to 7.1% with a mean of 6.0%, ear head length 6.6 to 14.7% with a mean of 10.2% and average loss in grain yield plant-1 was 16.5 to 35.8% with a mean of 26.9% was recorded in little millet cultivars.