Diversity in phenotypic traits of pearl millet landraces conserved at ICRISAT-Niger and Burkina Faso genebanks

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is an important crop for populations in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa and India. In Burkina Faso, pearl millet is one of main cereal crops, well known for climate resilient features and nutritional transcendency. However, most cultivated genotypes are landraces, whose productivity is still low. The objective of this study was to characterise the diversity of landraces for morphological traits under field conditions in Burkina Faso. Seventy-two accessions from Burkina Faso (24), India (24) and Togo (24) were evaluated in 2021 and repeated in 2022 at the Gampela station in Burkina Faso. The results revealed a diversity of accessions on grain and collar colours. This variability exists between the accessions on grain shape, ears pubescence and stay green. There is a marked difference between landraces from India landraces, compared to those from Burkina Faso and Togo landraces; implying that qualitative traits varied depending on factors such as climatic conditions cultivar and the selection exercised. High phenotypic variability in these materials on qualitative traits could serve as basis for pearl millet improvement programmes.