Combining Ability Analysis for Grain Yield and Its Attributing Traits in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)]

Abstract

The experimental material comprised of sixty genotypes consisting of five CMS lines and nine restorers as tester lines crossed in line × tester mating design. The resultant forty five hybrids along with their fourteen parents and standard check (GHB 1129) were evaluated in randomized block design at Ketanbhai Patel Farm Village Ishanpur Mota, Ta & Dist. Gandhinagar, Gujarat during, summer2024. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed that the mean square observed due to female were significant for all the characters except seed setting. Whereas, mean square observed due to male were for significant for all the characters. The mean square due to line × tester interaction were significant for all the characters which indicate that experimental material possessed considerable variability and that gca and sca were involved in the genetic control of various traits. The ratio of σ2gca / σ2sca was less than unity for all the characters. This indicates that the non-additive component genetic variance was predominantly involved in the expression of yield. Among the parents, None of the parent was good general combiners for all the characters. Among females, the female 37 A was good combiner for grain yield per plant, number of effective tiller per plant, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and plant height. ICMA 14222 was good combiner for grain yield per plant, test weight, days to 50% flowering and days to maturity. Among the male parent ICMR 17333 was good general combiner for grain yield per plant, seed setting, test weight, earhead girth, days to 50% flowering and days to maturity. The ICMR 11666 and ICMR 0911 expressed good general combining ability for grain yield per plant, earhead girth and earhead length. The top hybrid having high sca effect for yield ICMA 15666 x HBL-11 R exhibited significant sca effects in desired direction for grain yield per plant, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and earhead length. The second hybrid ICMA 21999 x ICMR 09777 has significant sca effects in desired direction for grain yield per plant, plant height, earhead length, earhead girth and test weight.