Seed Set and Xenia Effects on Grain Iron and Zinc Density in Pearl Millet

Three types of seed samples (selfed, sibbedand open pollinated) can be used for mineralanalysis in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.)R. Br.) and other cross-pollinated crops. Costeffectiveness and reliability of mineral estimatesin these types of seed samples have a directbearing on breeding efficiency. Three sets ofexperiments using a diverse range of materialswere conducted to examine the potential use ofselfed and open pollinated (OP) seed samplesfor the analysis of grain Fe and Zn density inpearl millet. The results of this study showedthat reduction in seed set under selfing, a genotype-dependent typical trait of this crop, ledto significant and large overestimates of Fe andZn density, indicating that selfed seeds cannotbe used for reliable estimation of grain Fe andZn density. There was no significant differencebetween the sibbed and crossed seeds, indicatingthat there was no xenia effect. Differencesamong the sibbed and OP seeds for Fe, Zn,and Al density were small in magnitude and notalways significant, indicating that dust contaminationwas not a significant factor determiningFe and Zn density. Since production of OP seedis most cost effective, it can be used for reliableestimation of Fe and Zn density when dealingwith a large number of breeding lines, therebyenhancing the breeding efficiency for thesemicronutrients in pearl millet