PRAFULL KUMAR, P. S. NETAM AND NARENDRA KUMAR
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, C.G., India
ZARS, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, C.G., India
*(e-mail : prafull397@gmail.com)
(Received: 30 May 2026; Accepted: 28 June 2026)
SUMMARY
Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is an important climate-resilient cereal crop valued for its short duration, drought tolerance and suitability to rainfed production systems. The present investigation was conducted during Kharif 2025 at S.G. College of Agriculture and Research Station, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, to identify high-yielding and dual-purpose proso millet genotypes adapted to the Bastar Plateau agro-ecological region. Sixteen advanced genotypes, including standard checks, were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications. Observations were recorded on phenological, morphological, grain yield and fodder yield traits. Analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic differences for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, tillers per plant and panicle length, indicating substantial genetic variability among the tested entries. Days to flowering ranged from 37 to 43 days, while maturity varied from 70 to 79 days. Grain yield ranged from 653.7 to 1375.9 kg/ha and fodder yield from 1777.8 to 4711.1 kg/ha. SHPM-1 recorded the highest grain yield (1375.9 kg/ha) and fodder yield (4711.1 kg/ha), followed by RPCAU-PRM-5, SHPM-2 and KOPPM-23-26. Principal component analysis, heat map visualization and multi-trait selection index consistently identified SHPM-1, KOPPM-23-26, SHPM-2 and RPCAU-PRM-5 as superior genotypes possessing favourable combinations of productivity, biomass production and adaptive traits. SHPM- 1 achieved the highest multi-trait selection index score (6.60), followed by KOPPM-23-26 (6.14) and SHPM-2 (5.81). The study demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating conventional agronomic evaluation with multivariate analytical approaches for identifying climate-resilient and dual-purpose proso millet genotypes. The superior entries identified in this study represent valuable candidates for multilocation evaluation, varietal development and future breeding programmes targeting rainfed agro-ecosystems of central India.
Key words: Panicum miliaceum, Bastar Plateau, climate-resilient agriculture, dual-purpose genotype, grain yield, multi-trait selection index