Combining ability and gene action analysis for yield and yield attributing traits in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.

Abstract

A diallel mating design excluding reciprocal was practised among 8 diverse parents and their 28 crosses to access the gene action and combining ability in pearl millet during kharif 2019. The statistical results of analysis of variance showed highly significant differences due to genotypes for all the traits under study indicating the parents and their hybrids under study have sufficiently high amount of genetic variability. Moreover, division of mean sum of square due to genotypes showed that the differences among eight parental genotypes were significant for all the yield related attributes. Among the 8 parents, 16317, 15708 and 15851 were considered as good general combiner for character viz. grain yield. Apart from grain yield per plant, the parent 16317 was also good combiner for days to flowering, days to maturity, ear head length and ear head girth, harvest index, test weight and protein content. The cross 17548 × 15388 was the finest specific combiner for grain yield per plant followed by 15851 × 15725 and 15725 × 16110. An inspection of per se performance as well as sca effects of crosses revealed that the 17548 × 15388 and 15851 × 15725 found best crosses for grain yield per plant and its component characters. So, these crosses are advised to further study for commercial exploitation. The proportion of σ2gca / σ2sca was below unity for all the traits under study, which suggested considerable action of non-additive genetic variance in the governance of these characters.