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Index- and Pareto-based multi-trait selection identifies dual-purpose sorghum and pearl millet cultivars for arid agro-ecosystems of Saudi Arabia
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DOI：10.3389/fpls.2026.1795221.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
BackgroundRainfed cereal production in southwestern Saudi Arabia depends largely on farmer-saved landraces; creating an important opportunity to strengthen grain and fodder productivity in mixed crop-livestock systems exposed to heat and variable rainfall. This study evaluated introduced dual-purpose sorghum and pearl millet germplasm under contrasting arid; supplemental-irrigated rainfed environments; and applied complementary quantitative approaches to identify high-performing; stable candidates that balance grain yield and green-fodder production while accounting for genotype × environment interaction (G×E).MethodsTwenty-seven sorghum and 15 pearl millet entries were evaluated in alpha-lattice trials at the contrasting Jazan lowland and Abha highland sites across four site × season/sowing-window environments. Linear mixed models quantified environment; genotype; and G×E effects and estimated entry-mean reliability. Stability and adaptation patterns were evaluated using the weighted average of absolute scores from BLUPs (WAASB) and GGE biplots. Dual-purpose performance was assessed using a standardized 50:50 grain-yield-fresh-biomass index as a transparent baseline in the absence of validated local economic or farmer-preference weights. Pareto-frontier analysis was used to identify non-dominated genotypes representing efficient grain-green-fodder trade-offs.ResultsThe trials revealed substantial genetic variation and contrasting genotype responses across environments; demonstrating considerable scope for improving grain and green-fodder productivity. Selection reliability was very high for sorghum fresh biomass and pearl millet grain yield; and high for pearl millet fresh biomass; providing a strong basis for prioritizing selection candidates within the target production environments. Sorghum grain yield showed lower reliability because only two grain-evaluable environments were available and G×E variance was large; highlighting a clear priority for expanded grain testing. SSV 74; WM 89/90#1615; and 89WM 5003 achieved the highest sorghum DualIndex values; while ICSV 15021 combined the highest mean fresh biomass with the lowest WAASB; identifying it as a particularly promising forage-oriented candidate. In pearl millet; LCICMV-1 (SOSAT-C-88) and ICMV 91450 displayed favorable grain-green-fodder profiles; ICMV 221 recorded the highest mean grain yield; and LCICMV-4 (Jirani) showed promising grain-yield performance under Jazan-associated conditions.ConclusionsThe study identified a valuable portfolio of sorghum and pearl millet candidates addressing complementary production objectives; including high green-fodder productivity; balanced grain-fodder performance; high grain yield; and targeted environmental adaptation. By integrating mixed-model reliability; stability analysis; a transparent grain-green-fodder index; and Pareto-frontier assessment; the study provides a rigorous and practical framework for converting early multi-environment data into evidence-based advancement decisions. The identified genotypes provide a strong foundation for expanded multi-location and participatory on-farm validation; standardized fodder-quality assessment; and staged seed-system development. Collectively; these findings advance the development of productive and resilient dual-purpose cereal options capable of strengthening grain and fodder security in southwestern Saudi Arabia and comparable arid mixed crop-livestock systems.
Keywords:
pearl millet
sorghum
multi-trait selection
arid agro-ecosystems
Pareto optimization
genotype-by-environment interaction
dual-purpose crops
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