Gontia, A.S.Bhoutekar, Varsha2016-08-292016-08-292013http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/74261ABSTRACT The present investigations entitled “Physiological evaluation of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) genotypes with reference to drought resistance and productivity” were carried out during Kharif season of 2011-12 at the research farm area, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, JNKVV, Jabalpur (M.P.) in a randomized block design replicated thrice. The results revealed that the genotypes indicated variable response for phenological traits. IVTPM 1 possessed the longest reproductive period (44.0 days) which can be utilized in a breeding program for increasing span of reproductive phase. IVTPM 7 may utilized for its highest grain filling rate despite of a shorter (37.66 days), reproductive period. Genotype IVTPM 3 for higher dry matter production in plant parts as well as total, LAI (4.81), LAD (84938 cm2.days), CGR (0.0014 g/cm2/day), RGR (0.07275 g/g/day), SLA (598.14 cm2/g) and IVTPM 7 for higher dry matter production in cobs (18.44 g/plant) may be utilized in a breeding program for enhancement of magnitude of growth parameters. Among drought resistant characteristics genotype IVTPM 7 possessed the maximum leaf water potential (-0.29 MPa) and leaf proline content (1.74  mol/g), genotype IVTPM 6 - the maximum membrane thermostability (1.19  mhos cm-1 electrical conductivity), canopy temperature (29.44 0C), air temperature (29.53 0C), photosynthetic rate (27.71 mol/m2/s), water use efficiency (8.73  mol/m mol), IVTPM 4 - desiccation tolerance (1.90  mhos cm-1) , IVTPM 2 - root shoot ratio (0.29), IVTPM 5 - lowest stomatal conductance (0.32 mol/m2/s), transpiration rate (2.60 m mol/m2/s), IVTPM 5 - highest relative water content (87.85 %) and lowest water saturation deficit (12.15 %), respectively. These traits may be utilized for developing the genotypes for drought prone areas. Genotype IVTPM 3 possessed highest chlorophyll index (22.48 g/m2) as well as quantum efficiency (7.51) which can also be utilized in a breeding program. The genotype IVTPM 7 possessed the higher grain filling rate despite of shorter reproductive period (37.66 days), dry matter production in cobs (18.44 g/plant), carboxylation efficiency (67.6  mol/m2/s( mol mol-1)-1, an average higher RGR (0.0695 g/g/day) which had reflected in its highest no. of cobs/plant (5.30), cob length (32.00 cm) and a quite higher no. of tillers/plant (5.33), HI (36.52 %), biological yield (85.23 g/plant and 15341.4 kg/ha) subsequently in highest grain yield (37.60 g/plant and 5401.66 kg/ha). IVTPM 5 was ranked second in yield performance (32.58 g/plant and 5146.66 kg/ha). IVTPM 1 possessed the lowest yield (7.02 g/plant and 1755.83 kg/ha). The highest no. of tillers/plant in IVTPM 4 (5.33), no. of grains/cob in IVTPM 3 (1277.66), biological yield in IVTPM 5 (104.43 g/plant and 18797.4 kg/ha) and HI in IVTPM 6 (40.86 %) could not contribute to increase in the grain yield due to poor performance of other yield components. Among seed quality traits IVTPM 5 was associated with highest protein (7.08 %), IVTPM 4 – fat (12.93 %) and carbohydrate (66.53 %) and IVTPM 3 – fibre contents (5.60 %), respectively.enThesis