Evaluation of Heterosis Grain Yield in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)] by Applying CMS-Based Hybrids

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)] at Ketanbhai Patel Farm, Village Ishanpur Mota, Ta & Dist. Gandhinagar, Gujarat. To assess the extent of heterosis for ten characters including grain yield per plant. Six CMS lines were crossed with eight restorer lines as testers in line x tester mating design to obtained 48 F1 hybrids of Pearl millet. The analysis of variance for parents, hybrids and parents vs. hybrids revealed that mean sum of squares of parents were highly significant for all of the characters. Whereas, hybrids also differed highly significant for all the characters. Comparison of mean squares due to parents vs. hybrids was found significant for almost all the characters except seed setting. This indicate that considerable amount of genetic variability present among the parents and hybrids for all the characters studied. On the basis of per se performance, highest grain yield per plant was observed in the parent HTP-03/13 R (52.20 g) and hybrid 97111 A x ICMR 1203 (91.50 g). while parent H 77/833-2-202R (76.00 days) and hybrid 94555 A x HTP-03/13 R (75.00 days) for early maturity. Whereas, the parent, H 77/833-2-202R (4.57), hybrid 97111 A x H 77/833-2-202R (5.50) for number of effective tiller per plant. Based on heterotic effect, 97111 A x ICMR 1907 hybrid recorded significant heterosis in desired direction over standard check for earhead length, earhead girth, test weight, harvest index, seed setting and grain yield per plant. The second hybrid 97111 A x ICMR 1203 has recorded significant heterosis (in desired direction) over standard check for earhead length, earhead girth, test weight, harvest index, seed setting and grain yield per plant. The third hybrid 97111 A x ICMR 19555 has recorded significant standard heterosis for earhead length, earhead girth, test weight, harvest index, seed setting and grain yield per plant. The last hybrid 97111 A x ICMR 18777 has recorded significant standard heterosis for earhead length, earhead girth, test weight, harvest index and grain yield per plant.