Source: http://vasat.icrisat.org/crops/pearl_millet/pm_production/html/m9_2/index.html

Pearl Millet Cultivars

Natural selection and domestication over thousands of years have resulted in the development of numerous pearl millet varieties highly local in their adaptation. Most of the improved varieties prior to 1960 are the result of selections among the principle local cultivars. Changes in yield levels with these improved verities were not substantial.

Notable among such improved cultivars developed during this early period and which are still under cultivation are:

 

 

Research efforts, which began with the development of open-pollinated varieties and hybrids of pearl millet from1970s. A choice of hybrids as well as of improved varieties is now available for the different pearl millet-growing states and situations. Recently released pearl millet hybrids are becoming more popular than the improved varieties.

Pearl millet hybrids offer several advantages besides higher grain yields:

 

 

 Recommended Hybrids of Pearl Millet

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration(days)	Remarks
Andhra  Pradesh	GHB-558	kharif	75-80	Medium
	PROAGRO-9443	-do-	76-80	-do-
	MLBH-504	-do-	79-83	Late
	Nandi-35	kharif & summer	80	-do-
	ICMH-356	kharif	75-80	Early
	Nandi-30	-do-	86	Late
	Gk-1004	kharif & summer	75-80	Early
	Pac-903	kharif	75-82	Late

---

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration(days)	Remarks
Gujarat	GHB-558	kharif	75-80	Medium(except scanty rainfall areas)
	GHB-557	-do-	73-77	Medium
	HHB-156	-do-	75-80	-do-
	PROAGRO-9444	summer	85-90	Late
	GHB-526	-do-	68-73	Early
	RHB-121	-do-	75-78	Medium
	7688	-do-	77-79	Medium
	PROAGRO-9443	-do-	76-80	Late
	PROAGRO-9445	-do-	75-85	Late
	PUSA-415	-do-	78	-do-
	ICMH-356	-do-	75-80	Early
	HHB-67	-do-	62	Extra Early.sutable for kutch region
	GHB-15	-do-	80	Late
	PUSA-444	-do-	>80	Late
	GHB-183	summer	83	Late
	GHB-316	kharif	80-85	Late
	JKHB-26	-do-	78-83	Late
	PUSA-605	-do-	74-80	Late
	7686	-do-	75-90	Late

---

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration (days)	Remarks
Haryana	HHB-146	kharif	75-80	Medium
	GHB-557	-do-	73-77	Medium
	GHB-558	-do-	75-80	Medium(except scanty rainfall areas)
	HHB-117	-do-	70-73	Early
	RHB-117	-do-	75-78	Early
	PUSA-605	-do-	74-80	Late
	7688	-do-	77-79	Late
	PROAGRO-9443	-do-	76-80	Late
	PROAGRO-9445	-do-	75-85	Late
	PUSA-444	-do-	>80	Late
	HHB-67	-do-	62	Extra Early
	HHB-68	-do-	65	Extra Early
	ICMH-356	-do-	75-80	Early
	HHB-60	-do-	74-76	Early
	MLBH-285	-do-	80-82	Late
	JKBH-2	-do-	78-83	Late
	GHB-316	-do-	80-85	Late
	PUSA-415	-do-	78	Late

---

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration (days)	Remarks
Karnataka	HHB-67	kharif	62	Extra Early-suited for Bellary District
	GHB-526	rabi	68-73	Early
	GHB-558	-do-	75-80	Medium
	ICMH-356	-do-	75-80	-do-
	MLBH-267	-do-	80-82	Late
	NANDI-35	kharif & summer	80	Medium
	PUSA-444	kharif	>80	Late
	GK-1004	kharif & summer	75-80	Early
	PAC-903	kharif	75-82	Late
	MLBH-504	-do-	79-83	Late
	PROAGRO-9443	-do-	76-80	Late

---

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration (days)	Remarks
Maharashtra	GHB-558	kharif	75-80	Medium
	GHB-526	summer	68-73	Early
	PROAGRO-9444	-do-	85-90	Late
	ICMH-356	-do-	75-80	Late-Assured        rainfall areas in        light to medium        soils of marathwada region
	Shraddha	-do-	72-80	Late
	AHB-21	-do-	85-90	Late
	PUSA-444	-do-	>80	Late
	NANDI-35	kharif & summer	80	Late
	Saburi	-do-	79	Late
	GK-1004	-do-	75-80	Early except Aurangabad   Division
	PAC-903	kharif	75-82	Late
	MLBH-504	kharif	79-83	Late

---

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration (days)	Remarks
Rajasthan	HHB-146	kharif	75-80	Medium
	RHB-121	-do-	75-78	-do-
	GHB-558	-do-	75-80	Medium(except scanty rainfall areas)
	GHB-577	-do-	73-77	Medium
	RHB-90	-do-	75-80	-do-
	PROAGRO-9445	-do-	75-85	Late
	7688	-do-	77-79	Late
	RHB-58	-do-	>80	Late
	RHB-30	-do-	73-78	Early
	HHB-67	-do-	62	Extrra Early suitable for          Barmer,Jodhpur,jalore.         Bikaner,Jalsalmer& Pall Districts
	PROAGRO-9443	-do-	76-80	Medium
	ICMH-356	-do-	75-80	Medium
	PUSA-444	-do-	>80	Late
	MLBH-285	-do-	80-82	Late
	JKBH-26	-do-	78-83	Late
	GHB-316	-do-	80-85	Late
	7686	-do-	75-90	Late
	PUSA-415	-do-	78	Medium
	NANDI-32	kharif & summer	78	Early
	PROAGRO-9444	summer	85-90	Late

---

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration (days)	Remarks
Tamil nadu	COH(cu)-8	All Seasons	82-85	Late
	GHB-526	Rabhi	68-73	Early
	GHB-558	Kharif	75-80	Medium
	PROAGRO-9443	All Seasons	76-80	-do-
	HHB-67	Kharif	62	Extra Early suited to Coimbatore District
	NANDI-35	Kharif & Summer	80	Late
	ICMH-356	Kharif	75-80	Early
	MLBH-267	-do-	80-82	Late
	PUSA-444	-do-	>80	Late
	GK-1004	kharif & summer	75-80	Early
	PROAGRO-9444	summer	85-90	Late
	PAC-903	kharif	75-82	Late

---

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration (days)	Remarks
Madhya Pradesh	HHB-146	Kharif	75-80	Medium
	ICMH-356	-do-	75-80	-do-
	GHB-577	-do-	73-77	-do-
	7688	-do-	77-79	-do-
	RHB-121	-do-	75-78	-do-
	PROAGRO-9443	-do-	76-80	Late
	PROAGRO-9443	-do-	75-85	Late
	PUSA-605	-do-	74-80	Late
	MLBH-285	-do-	80-82	Late
	PUSA-415	-do-	78	Medium
	JKBH-26	-do-	78-83	Late
	GHB-316	-do-	80-85	Late

---

                                                      Recommended Open-pollinated Varieties

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration(days)	Remarks
Rajastha,Haryana.Gujarath,UttarPradesh, MadhyaPradesh,Maharashtra, Jammu Division and Punjab	Raj-171	Kharif	80-85	Late and dual purpose
Rajastha,Haryana.Gujarath,UttarPradesh,Delhi Parts of Madhya Pradesh and Punjab	GICKV-96752	Kharif	75-90	rrigated/low/high fertility conditions
	Pusa composite (MP-334)	-do-	78	-do-
	Pusa composite (MP-383)	-do-	75-78	-do-
Andhra Pradesh	ICMV-221	-do-	70-80	Early
	Ananta	Kharif & Rabi	85-90	Late

---

State	Cultivar	Season	Duration(days)	Remarks
Gujarat	MP-406(CZP-9802)	-do-	75-77	Early
Haryana	HC-20	Kharif	80-84	Late
	MP-406(CZP-9802)	-do-	75-77	Early
	HC-10	-do-	76-81	Rainfed/Irrigated conditions
Punjab	PCB-164	-do-	80	Medium
Rajasthan	MP-406(CZP-9802)	-do-	75-77	Early
Maharashtra	samrudhi(MP 282)Parbhani sampada(ppc-6)	Kharif -do-	80-85 75-80	shallow to medium soils with 400-700mm rainfall areas
Maharashtra,karnataka, (except Bellary)&Tamilnadu (except Coimbatore),Pondicherry.	ICMV-221	-do-	70-80	Early

Characteristics of some improved varieties

HHB 67                            Extra early single-cross hybrid, bold grain, 
                                      short panicles, the ability to produce basal 
                                      tillers regularly, short plant height.

ICMH 90852                     Medium to late maturity, high tillering 
                                      potential, thin intermediate panicles and 
                                      medium grain size.

CZ-IC 922                        Medium maturing, open-pollinated variety, 
                                      low tillering potential, medium to large 
                                      panicles, medium thick stems, medium-tall 
                                      plant height, and medium grain size.

RCB-IC 911                      Medium maturity, open-pollinated variety, 
                                      very large grain size, thick compact 
                                      panicles, and low tillering potential.

MH 179                            Late maturing single-cross hybrid, long 
                                      panicles, low tillering potential, thick 
                                      stems, medium grain size, bristles, and 
                                      medium-tall plant height.

CZP-IC 923                      Late maturing, open-pollinated variety, 
                                      long, thick panicles, low tillering potential, 
                                      tall plant height, large grain size, and thick stems.

ICMP 94881                     Late maturing, open-pollinated variety, 
                                      with intermediate tillering potential, and less compact panicles.

CZH-IC 313                      Early maturing, top cross hybrid, medium- 
                                      high tillering potential, large grain size, and medium-longpanicles.

CZP-IC 315                      Medium-late maturing-open-pollinated 
                                      variety, with high tillering potential 
                                      medium-long, think, compact panicles, with small-medium grain size, and medium plant height.

            CZP 9802

• Dual purpose variety;

• Grain yield potential of 2.0-2.2 t/ha;

• Produce high quantity of dry stover (average 3.3 tonnes/ha)

• Tall (180 t0 200 cm), good tillering (2 to 4 compact panicles per plant;

• Flowers within 45 days and mature in 72 to 75 days;

• Released for cultivation in the scanty rainfall and drought-prone areas of Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat.

                             ICMH 356

• Released for cultivation in all pearl millet growing zones of India;

• Mid-early in maturity (75-80 days) and medium in height (160 cm);

• Moderate tillering (2-3 panicles plant-1);

• Semi-compact, candle-shaped panicles of medium length (15-20 cm), and medium size seeds of gray color;

• It also has stay green character;

• Yields 2.5 t/ha.

                                ICMV 221

• Released for cultivation in all pearl millet producing regions of India except central and western Rajasthan and northern Gujarat that receive <400 mm mean annual precipitation;

• Mid-early in maturing (75-80 days) with medium height (15-170 cm);

• Compact, medium-long panicles (18-25 cm) with large globular seeds of gray color.

                                ICTP 8203

• Released for cultivation in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra;

• Plants are of medium height (1.5 m) with compact earheads of 16 to 18 cm;

• Medium maturity of 75 to 80 days;

• Large globular seeds of dark gray color with shiny outer surfaces;

• Good resistance to downy mildew and tolerance to drought.

                               HHB 67-2

 

 

                                  HHB 94

• Released for cultivation Haryana;

• Medium tall (180-220 cm) and high tillering;

• Mid-early maturity of 75 days;

• Cylindrical panicles with medium size seeds of gray color.

                                PHB 65

• Recommended for commercial cultivation in north-eastern Karnataka, western Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat;

• Mid-early maturity of 75 days;

• Good tillering (3-4 tillers/ plant) and tall (195 cm) plants;Yields 4.5 t/ha.

• Compact,cylindrical medium-long (25-30 cm) panicles and large seeds of light gray color;

• Broader leaves that stay green until maturity, thus it has an advantage for fodder/stover value.

                              RHB 127

• Recommended for Rajasthan;

• Mid-early maturity of 80 to 85 days;

• Medium size, bristled, compact panicle and high-tillering with medium size seeds of light color.

• Yields 16 % higher than ICMH 356.

                             WC C75

• Mid-late in maturity (80- 85 days) with tall plants (190-210 cm);

• Moderate tillering (2-3 panicles/ plant) with compact, medium long (22-28 cm), semi- cylindrical panicles;

• Medium size seeds of light gray color.

• Yields 2 t/ha.

• Highly resistant to downy mildew and not normally susceptible to ergot or smut.

Recommended short duration and drought tolerant/drought avoiding hybrids/ varieties

State	Hybrids	Varieties
Maharashtra	ICMH 356, Nandi 35, Saburi,C903	PPC 6,HC 20,JBV 2,ICTP 8203
Tamil Nadu	GHB 558, CoHCU 8, X 7	CO 7, ICMV 221, ICMV 155
Andhra Pradesh	PB 106, GHB 558	AIMP 92901, APS - 1
Karnataka	PB 106, GHB 558	ICMV 221, ICMV 155
Rajasthan	HHB 67, RHB 121, GHB 538,  PB180	CZP 9802, RAJ 171
Gujarat	GHB 577, GHB 526, PB172, PB112	JBV 2, HC 20

 

 

• The Co-series in Tamil Nadu;
• The Nandyal, Guntur and Anakapalle series of Andhra Pradesh;
• Bijapur selections of Karnataka;
• Bajri series of Maharashtra;
• The RSJ and RSK series of Rajasthan
• More uniform in growth;
• Generally better in fodder quality;
• Foliage is leafier and remains green after grain harvest;
• Profuse tillering;
• Stems are succulent and sweet;
• Hybrid seed production is not difficult and so, readily available in markets.
• Downy mildew resistant improved version of HHB 67;
• Released for cultivation in Haryana and Zone A of India as a replacement for the original HHB 67;
• High-tillering, extra-early maturity (64-65 days) and medium-tall plants (170-200 cm);
• Medium panicles (25 cm) of lanceo-conical shape with very small bristles and large seeds of slate gray color.