Assessment of genotype response to drought stress under vegetative and reproductive stages in finger millet

This study aimed to assess the response of finger millet genotypes to drought stress under vegetative and reproductive stages. Thirteen finger millet varieties were evaluated at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute in Karaikal during the Kharif season of 2023 (April-July). The study focused on three different treatments with each treatment being replicated three times. Various morphological, physiological, and root-related traits were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. Except for the four traits namely CT, DFF, RLT, and RSR, all other trait exhibited a significant reduction in mean performance under vegetative and reproductive drought stress compared to the optimal condition. The DSI values ranged from -0.64 to 3.38 under vegetative drought stress and from -1.94 to 2.46 under reproductive drought stress. The mean yield reduction was 14.16% under vegetative drought compared to optimal conditions, and 19.44% under reproductive drought compared to optimal conditions in finger millet. Notably, it was observed that finger millet genotypes demonstrated superior drought tolerance especially under the vegetative stage compared to the reproductive stage. Based on the Smith selection index score, finger millet genotypes G9, G7, and G4 were identified as top performers under both vegetative and reproductive drought stress conditions. These preliminary findings emphasize the potential of these finger millet genotypes for breeding and genetic enhancement to improve drought tolerance in finger millet. The challenges of this study included the necessity to carefully manage the timing and intensity of drought stress to mimic natural conditions and ensure reliable results. The study’s findings contribute to the ongoing efforts to develop drought-tolerant crops and enhance food security in regions prone to drought.