Crop characteristics of 137 common millet
(Panicum miliaceum L.) resources collected in Korea were
investigated in order to establish basic data for the improvement
of crop breeding. Spike types of 137 plant resources
were classified as 4 types of oblate, spreading, oblate-compact
(intermediary type between oblate and compact) and oblatespreading
(intermediary type between oblate and compact)
type, of which oblate spike type was the highest percentage
of 66.4% (91 plant resources) of 137 germplasm. Seed color
was classified as 5 colors of dark brown, yellow, brown,
yellowish brown, and yellowish white, of which yellowish
white was the highest percentage of 66.4% (54 plant resources)
among them. Seed type was classified as 2 types of pyramid
shape and short pyramid shape, which showed 62.8%
and 37.2% respectively. Days from seeding to heading date
showed the range from 68 to 85 days with 73.7 days in
the average and the highest frequency proportion of it was
the group from 70 to 75 days, which occupied 46.7% (64
plant resources) of 137 germplasm. Days from seeding to
physiological maturity showed the range from 109 to 124
days with 112.0 days in the average and the highest frequency
proportion (60.6%) of it was the group from 111
to 115 days, while there were also occupied with 6.6%
below 110 days and 5.1% over 120 days among 137 germplasm.
Group from 181 cm to 190 cm of culm length showed
the highest frequency proportion of 47.4%, whereas below
160 cm was the lowest occupancy of 2.9%. Spike length
showed the range from 181 to 190 cm with 181.4 cm in
the average and the highest frequency distribution of it was
the group from 31 to 35 cm with the proportion of 54.0%.
Number of grains per spike showed the range from 432 to
2,665 grains with 1,429.5 grains in the average and group
from 1,200 to 1,400 grains per spike was the highest
frequency distribution with the proportion of 20.4%. There
were also occupied with 13.1% below 1,000 grains and
8.6% over 2,000 grains per spike among 137 germplasm.