Study of some morphological traits and straw and grain yield in different variaties of common millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)

This experiment was conducted to study straw and grain yield and morphological traits in 10 common millet by using a RCB design with three replications in Karaj, Dezful and Gorgan in three consecutive growing seasons (2000-2003). Data were recorded on traits such as tiller no.plant-1, leaf no.plant-1, stem diametere, days to 50% flowering, panicle length, seed number per panicle, 1000- grain weight. The grain and straw yields of each variety was also determined by harvesting a 5 m2 area of two center rows in each plot, and the weights were then adjusted to 14% of moisture. Results indicated that there were significant differences for all traits among varieties at 0.01 probability level, except for, days to 50% flowering and straw yield. Mean comparisons showed that var. 2 with 9.2 leaves, var. 9 with the stem diameter of 8.54 mm, var. 1 with panicle length of 35.7 cm, var. 9 with 1111 grain per panicle, var. 9 with 1000- grain weight of 5.16 g, and var. 3 with the grain yield of 1.859 t/ha had the highest values among the other varieties. Meanwhile, the results showed that there were significant and positive correlation between straw yield and number of grain per panicle (0.695*) but there were significant and positive correlation between grain yields and tiller number per plant (0.657*), leaf number per plant(0.677*), days to 50% flowering(0.782*) and straw yield (0.782*).