Variations of genotypes, seasons and genotype by season interactions for yield, yield components and agronomic traits in finger millet (Eleusine conaracana L. Gaertn)

The socio-economic importance of finger millet for African and Asian countries is quite high and the crop has considerable potential in dryland farming systems of semi-arid and arid regions. An experiment was undertaken to determine the magnitude and nature of the genotype by season interaction and the response of genotypes to different seasons. Thirty-five finger millet accessions were evaluated in the dry season 2010/11 and the rainy season 2011. Combined analyses showed significant differences among seasons, genotype and genotype by season interactions for yield per plot, 1000 seed weight, finger length, plant height and days to flowering. Season contributed to a large proportion of variations on yield per plot (97.4 %), 1000-seed weight (93.5 %), finger length (62.8%), plant height (94.6%) and days to flowering (78%). However, variations due to genotype were (38.5%) for finger number, finger width (41.8%) and days to flowering (16.8%). Accession IE 3618 showed low variation in yield for the two seasons while IE 4565 had the highest variations when evaluated in the two seasons for yield per plot. Because of high yield and low variation, IE 3618 is promising for production in both the dry season and the rainy season.