Abstract
Seventy-two pearl millet genotypes were water stressed at panicle development and grain filling stages. Neither grain yields, yield components, protein percent nor total protein per unit area were affected by water deficit during panicle development, but protein content per grain was increased. When plants were water stressed during grain filling, grain yield, grains per unit area, and 1,000 grain weight were reduced, but grain protein percentage increased. Total protein per unit area was reduced, primarily due to lower grain yield. The protein content per grain was unaffected by stress, suggesting that the apparent increase in protein percentage is due to reduced carbohydrate accumulation under stress. (Author 's abstract)