Reproductive biology, breeding behaviour, emasculation, pollination techniques and hybridization in little millet (Panicum sumatrense L.)

Little millet belong to group of small millets and family Poaceae. Flower opening in this crop is chasmogamous type, in which pollination takes place prior to opening of flowers. Hence, self pollination highly predominates. So, to create variability, hybridization is prerequisite. Because of self pollination and non availability of male sterility, emasculation is necessary for crossing. There are many emasculation and crossing methods like contact method, hot water treatment, hand emasculation and USSR method which are used in this crop. But the disadvantage in these methods is damage to stigma this reduces the success rate of obtaining true F1’s. To overcome all this problems of earlier methods, in the modified crossing 'SMUASB' recently utilized method. In this method, cold water (5-8 oC) sprayed on the panicle as a mechanical stimulator for opening of florets in male and female panicles. For emasculation, female panicle is gently washed in cold water. This will not affect stigma and its receptivity. All florets which are already fertilized and not opened immature florets are removed before pollination. Hence, success rate of obtaining true F1s is more and less land and resources are required for evaluation of F1’s. Using SMUASB method, we attempted crosses in Little millet and the success rate observed was 50 to 60%.