Abstract

The Finger millet culture TNAU 946 is a cross derivative between Malawi 1305 x CO 13. This is a medium duration culture falling into the maturity group of 105-110 days. This has recorded an overall increase of 9.0 per cent in grain yield (2774 kg/ha) over the check CO 13 (2546 kg/ha) in a total number of 134 trials for the past five years which is 13.3 per cent increase over GPU 28 (2448Kg/ha) and 26.5 per cent increase over the national check HR 374 (2192 kg/ha). The culture TNAU 946 has 8-9 top curved fingers per panicle and 5-9 productive tillers. It endowes with the special attributes of easy threshability, synchronised maturity and non-lodging growth habit. It is rich in seed protein (12.93%), fat (3.5%), crude fibre (3.1%) and calcium (0.66%) with the high flouring capacity (93.0%) and low residual weight (7.0%). Based on colour, appearance, flavour, texture and taste TNAU 946 displayed favourable overall acceptability. This culture is moderately resistance to the major diseases of neck and finger blast with 8.6% and 10.3% damage when compared to national check with 10% and 12.5% of damage respectively. TNAU 946 finger millet culture has been released as a new variety CO(Ra) 14 during 2004 for cultivation during kharif as rainfed and Rabi/ summer as irrigated crop in Tamil Nadu.

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