This document provides instructions for seed production of millets. Millet is a self-pollinated crop that should be raised in isolation with a 3 meter minimum distance between varieties to maintain purity. The instructions include field preparation through fine tillage, seed treatment with fungicide, fertilizer application, spacing for line planting, weeding and thinning schedules. Roguing of off-types and diseased plants should be done up to flowering to avoid contamination. Harvest occurs when upper panicle seeds are mature but grains in the lower panicle may still be doughy. Testing procedures are outlined including plot design, observation methods and characteristics for assessing distinctness, uniformity and stability.

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18. Method of seed production
.Millets is a self-pollinated crop. The crop should be raised
in isolation. The isolation distance maintained between the
varieties is 3 meters for both foundation and certified seed
production to maintain the varietal purity

22. For sowing 12.5 kg/ha for use of Gorru
or seed drill is recommended.
Plough the field thoroughly 2 or 3 times
using a small iron plough or country plough
to fine tilth.
Seed treatment :
Treat 1 kg of seeds with 2 g Thiram or
Carbendazim.
Field preparation :
Plough the field thoroughly 2 or 3 times
using a small iron plough or country
plough to fine tilth.
Fertilizer application : Apply basally
FYM/COMPOST: 12.5 t/ha
Nitrogen : 44 kg/ha
Phosphorus : 22 kg/ha

23. Spacing :
For line planting 25 x 10 cm for sowing
10 cm in between plants
Weeding : First weeding is done on the 15th DAS and the second
weeding on 40th DAS
Thinning : Thinning is done soon after weeding or before 20 DAS

24. Rouging
Rouging should be done often to remove the off types,
volunteer plants and diseased plants from the seed
production field to avoid the genetic contamination.
Roguing should be done up to the flowering stage.
Maximum percentage of off type permitted at the final
inspection is 0.05% for foundation and 0.10% for certified
seed production.

25. Harvesting
. Proso millet is ready for harvest when seeds in the upper half of the
panicle are mature. Seeds in the lower half of the panicle may still be in
the dough stage but should have lost their green color. At this point, the
leaves and stems may still be green. Millet is usually harvested by
swathing to allow drying of straw before combining .
. Foxtail millet should be harvested for hay or silage from the late boot
to bloom stage. At this stage, hay quality is at its peak, and protein
levels of 12 to 14% may be common. As the plant matures, protein
decline.

27. BREEDING OBJECTIVE:
1.High grain yield
2.Early maturity
3.Better quality
4.Resistance to disease
5.Resistance to pests
6.Resistance to biotic &a
Abiotic stress

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40. Conduct of tests
The minimum duration of the DUS test shall normally be at least two independent
similar growing seasons.
The test shall normally be conducted at least at two test locations.
Test plot design:
Number of rows : 04
Row length : 3.0m
Row to row distance : 30cm
Plant to plant distance : 10 cm
Number of replications : 04
Observations shall not be recorded on plants in border rows.
Additional tests for special purpose shall be established by the PPV& FR Authority.

41. Methods and observation
1. The characteristics described in the table of characteristics shall be used for the testing
of varieties, Parental lines and hybrids for their DUS.
2. For the assessment of Distinctness and Stability, observations shall be made on 40
plants or parts of 40 plants, which shall be divided among 4 replications (10 plants in
each replication).
3. For the assessment of Uniformity of characteristics on the plot as a whole (visual
assessment by a single observation of a group of plants or parts of plants), the number of
off types (including plant parts) should not exceed 2 in 100.
4. For the assessment of all colour characteristics, the latest Royal Horticultural Society
(RHS) colour chart shall be used

42. Grouping of varieties
1. The candidate varieties for DUS testing shall be divided into groups to facilitate
assessment of Distinctness. Characteristics which are suitable for grouping purpose
are those which do not vary or vary slightly, within a variety.
2. The following characteristics are proposed to be used for grouping Finger millet
varieties:
a) Kharif , Summer or Rabi Adaptation
b) Plant: Pigmentation at leaf jucture
c) Days to 50 percent flowering
d) Ear : Shape
e) Finger:
f) Seed: Colour

43. Characteristics and Symbol
To assess Distinctiveness, Uniformity and Stability, the characteristics and their states as
given in the Table of characteristics (Section VII) shall be used.
Notes (1 to 9) shall be given for each state of expression for different characteristics for the
purpose of electronic data processing.
Legend : (*) Characteristics that shall be observed during every growing season on all
varieties and shall always be included in the description of the variety, except when the state
of expression of any of these characters is rendered impossible by a preceding phenological
characteristic or by the environmental conditions of the testing region. Under such
exceptional situation, adequate explanation shall be provided.
(+) See Explanation on the Table of characteristics in Section VIII. It is to be noted that for
certain characteristics the plant parts on which observations to be taken are given in the
explanation or figure(s) for clarity and not the colour variation.

44. Decimal code for the growth stage
Stage code General Description
04 Seedling
15 2-4 leaf stage
26 Vegetative
54 Flowering
67 Dough stage
77 Seed filling
83 Maturity
87 Harvest
95 After harvest

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