Genetic variation in seed proteins of improved local land races of finger millet from Garhwal cultivars and Himalayas

Abstract

Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L) Gaertn.] is cultivated over a wide area in India and possesses wide genetic diversity among land races. In Uttarakhand state, it is cultivated under low input, rain fed conditions from low to high hills. Modern cultivars show poor adaptation and lack stability for grain production at hills due to environmental constraints. It is difficult to identify desired traits associated with the development of cultivars through conventional breeding methods that show greater adaptability and better stability in grain production at high altitude [1,2]. In this investigation, the genetic variation of seed protein patterns [3] in finger millet was assessed for identifying the differences among land races and modern cultivars using SOS-PAGE analysis.