Inheritance of qualitative and quantitative traits in foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.);

Four studies were initiated with the objective of providing a technique for artificial hybridization and to obtain basic information on blooming habits and inheritance of qualitative and quantitative traits needed to develop well-suited foxtail millet breeding programs. Blooming habits were determined on five plants from each of five cultivars. A crossing technique was developed that yielded 75% seed set and more than 90% true hybrid seed. Inheritance of plant, bristle, anther, and seed color, bristle development, earhead density, and seed shape was determined from half diallel crosses among seven parents. Data on each trait were recorded on F1 and two sets of 200 F$\sb2$-progenies from each of 21 crosses. Purple/green plant and bristle color were jointly inherited and controlled by a single dominant gene, with purple dominant over green. Orange/white anther color was conditioned by three factors with complementary effects. Interaction of three factors determined seed coat color. Bristle development was controlled by a single factor with additive effects. Dense/lax earhead types were conditioned by two dominant factors with duplicate effects, with dense dominant over lax. Additive action of two factors determined seed shape. All these traits were independently inherited. Types and amount of gene action conditioning inheritance of days to heading and maturity, grain yield, plant height, spike length, tillers per plant, and Helminthosporium leaf spot (HLS) and corn leaf spot (CLA) resistance were determined on F$\sb2$ and F$\sb3$-generations of 21 crosses from a half diallel mating of seven randomly chosen parents. Grifing\u27s diallel analysis (Method 2 and Model 1) revealed that general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant in both generations for days to heading and maturity, grain yield, and spike length. However, SCA was significantly reduced in the F$\sb3$-generation for all these traits, except plant height. Only GCA was significant for tillers per plant and HLS and CLA resistance. Estimates of the additive component of variance accounted for most of the genetic variance for tillers per plant and HLS and CLA resistance, but the dominance component of variance was more important for all other traits. Understanding the genetics and inheritance of these traits makes a breeding program for foxtail millet more effective