Improvement Of Drought Resistance In Pearl Millet

Abstract

Pearl millet is grown almost exclusively in arid and semiarid tropical areas characterized by high growing seafon temperatures, low and frequently erratic rainfall, and shallow or sandy soils. Inadequate moisture is the major limitation to production in most of the areas. The crop appears to adapt to these conditions by a combination of short-duration important developmental periods and considerable development plasticity to maximize its use of short periods of favorable moisture. Little is known of its possible physiological adaptations to stress, although the limited information available suggests a significant heat tolerance