AbstractInadequate stand establishment can be a major constraint to high grain and fodder yields of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucumL. R. Br.) in the semi‐arid tropics. In this study, two laboratory screening procedures designed to improve components of stand establishment were evaluated. In the first procedure the ability of seedlings to emerge from the soil at 45 °C was tested and in the second procedure the ability of seeds to germinate at 45°C was measured. Two cycles of recurrent selection were conducted with each procedure in the Higrop and Senpop pearl millet gene pools. The resultant populations were evaluated to measure the efficacy of the screening procedures. Selection for increased emergence was effective in the Cc of Higrop. When emergence percentage was averaged across Higrop and Senpop, recurrent selection increased emergence percentage by 7.4 per cycle. In future, the size of the emergence screening units and number of seeds screened per progeny tested should be increased. The germination selection procedure was ineffect
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