Genetic studies in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation on “Studies on heterosis for yield and its components in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)” was conducted during Kharif-2020, at Department of Agriculture Botany, Vasantrao Naik Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, National Agricultural Research Project, Aurangabad and College of Agriculture, Golegaon. The experimental material included in the present study comprised of five females (lines) and twelve restorers (testers) and sixty crosses. The experimental material was evaluated for twelve characters viz; days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, earhead length (cm), earhead girth(cm), number of nodes per plant, plant height(cm), total number of tillers per plant, number of effective tillers per plant, Fe content (ppm), Zn content (ppm), grain yield per plant (g) and grain yield per hectare (kg). The hybrids 02888A x 15006R, 02333A x 15006R, 00444A x 15351R, 99111A x 15020R and 99111A x 15713R exhibited high mean values for grain yield per plant and highly significant specific combining ability effects and wider adaptation across the environments. These hybrids could be utilized to exploit heterosis for grain yield. The hybrids 00444A x 15351R, 99111A x 15020R, 00111A x 15713R and 02888A x 15392R were found early for days to maturity. The hybrids 02888A x 15006R, 00444A x 15351R and 02333A x 15351R were found to contain high Fe content, whereas 99111A x 15020R, 02333A x 15351R and 02333A x 15020R had high Zn content.