Heterosis study for yield and yield attributes in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to assess the magnitude of heterosis of 28 hybrids derived from eight parents of pearl millet through diallel mating design excluding reciprocals. Hybrids exhibited from low to high significant mid parent heterosis, heterobeltiosis, and standard heterosis in desired direction for all the traits except standard heterosis for days to flowering as well as number of effective tillers per plant. The hybrid 17548 × 15388 manifested significant economic heterosis in desirable direction for grain yield per plant with plant height, test weight and protein content. The cross 15851 × 15725 also showed high heterotic magnitude over check for grain yield per plant with traits like days to flowering, days to maturity, harvest index and test weight. The heterobeltiosis for grain yield per plant ranged from -58.60 to 350.02 per cent, while the standard heterosis for grain yield per plant ranged from -61.30 to 48.72 per cent. The highest heterobeltiosis was recorded by the hybrids viz.15058 × 15725 and 15058 ×15388.