SELECTIVE ADVANTAGE OF B-CHOROMOSOMES IN PEARL MILLET, PENNISETUM TYPHOIDES

The response of B-containing and non B-plants in pearl millet to one of the environmental stress conditions, viz. population density (seeds being sown in five densities - 5, 25, 50, 75 and 100) was studied. A ‘standard population’ was maintained as control. The experiment shows that under adverse conditions of density, zero B-plants were at an advantage whereas lower density conditions were favourable for B-plants. There seemed a differential response of different B-containing plants towards sowing density. This study favours the view that there is selective advantage for plants with smaller number of Bs in pearl millet.