Pishahang, A New Common Millet Cultivar for Short Growing Period Areas of Iran

Research was conducted during 1999 to 2009 to develop and introduce a new common millet (Panicum miliaceum) cultivar suitable for areas with short growing seasons in Iran. Several common millet populations collected from different locations of Iran were evaluated in research farm of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute in Karaj and based on yield، agronomic traits and tolerance to abiotic stresses such loding، 21 superior lines were selected. During years 2000 to 2009، these lines were evaluated in different research experiments in Karaj، Gorgan and Dezful and also in farmers fields in Yazd، Kerman and Zabol، finally a superior line coded as KCM7 was selected. Based on the results of these experiments، the new line was early maturing with high and stable fresh forage yield of 35. 5 tha-1 and dry forage yield of 7. 6 tha-1. The panicle length of KCM7 is 26. 87 cm، its 1000 seed weight is 4. 2 g with yellow color seeds and yield of 1. 69 tha-1. Line KCM7 was officially introduced in 2009 by Seed and Plant Improvement Institute after approval of Seed Registration Committee of Agricultural Research، Education and Extension Organization with name of Pishahang as the first common millet cultivar in Iran.