High Yielding Variety Bred through Recombinant Breeding Technology in Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea. L)

Breeding efforts for barnyard millet commenced in the 2009-10 kharif season, focusing on crossing various genotypes. Selection began in the F2 generation and continued until stabilization was achieved by the F5 or F6 generation, requiring a minimum of 6 to 9 seasons to bred high-yielding genotypes with insect and disease tolerance. The result is DHBM-23-3, a medium-maturing barnyard millet variety bred at ARS, Hanumanamatti, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. This variety matures with 85 to 90 days and traits an erect growth habit with a height of 131 to 151 cm. The grains are bold, oval-shaped, and gray in color. DHBM-23-3 has demonstrated impressive yields, achieving 24.12 q/ha for grain and 7.4 t/ha for straw, along with a low shoot fly infestation rate of 2.33%. Compared to the national check varieties, VL-172 and VL-207, DHBM-23-3 exhibits a yield advantage of 13.52% and 14.80%, respectively. From 2011 to 2017, DHBM-23-3 consistently surpassed local and national yield benchmarks, achieving an average grain yield of 41.50 q/ha compared to 27.67 q/ha for RAU-11 and 34.06 q/ha for VL-207. Its performance in All India Coordinated Trials showed continued advantages of 17.63% and 9.23% over genotypes, VL-172 and VL-207, respectively underscoring its adaptability to various agro-climatic conditions. The variety also exhibited strong resistance to key diseases and insects, with a low incidence of grain smut (4.73%) and shoot fly infestation (mean of 2.33%), which can help lower pest management costs for farmers. Nutritionally, DHBM-23-3 outperformed national checks in protein (11.68%), calcium (12 mg/kg), zinc (45.1 mg/kg), and iron (16.2 mg/kg), making it an important food source for addressing dietary deficiencies. Morphologically, it possesses attractive traits, including pinkish pigmentation, a sturdy height of 140 cm, and a bold seed size of 2.67 g, which enhances its marketability. DHBM-23-3 combines high yield potential, robust disease resistance, nutritional benefits, and favorable agronomic traits, making it a promising option for sustainable barnyard millet cultivation across India.