Climate Change Effect on Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Genetic Variability in Burkina Faso

Aims: To compare pearl millet genetic variability in the different agro-climatic zones in Burkina Faso.

Methodology: The experiments were conducted by Technology and Science Department and bio-sciences laboratory, Pr Joseph Ki-Zerbo University Ouaga 1, between July and October 2015. The test was carried out in rain condition according to a block of Fisher with three replications. Seventy-two (72) accessions were collected in five northern latitudes degrees in Burkina Faso. Nineteen (19) quantitative characters were noted including, eight (8) phenologic traits evaluated on eight (8) feet and eleven (11) agro-morphological characters measured on three (3) plants in each accession.

Results: The results analyzing showed the difference between the accessions in the five (05) northern latitudes degrees depends more of the phenologic traits than on the agro-morphological characters. The cycle 50% flowering and the plants harvest cycle varied respectively between the five (05) northern latitudes degrees: from 90 to 64 and from 110 to 80 days after sowing. Indeed, the genetic variability higher of the pearl millet was the 10° and 11° northern latitudes and the lowest genetic variability was indicated by the 14° northern latitude. This study shows that the rural farmers majority pearl millet selection was early variety cycle.

Conclusion: Climate change effect reduced the genetic base of the pearl millet traditional varieties in the weak rain zones.