Genetic Analysis of Combining Ability in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) for Enhanced Yield and Agronomic Traits

Abstract

Pearl Millet [ Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a highly cross-pollinated crop with protogynous flowering and a mainly wind-borne pollination mechanism. As a C4 plant, it demonstrates high photosynthetic efficiency, especially under high temperatures and light intensity. The present investigation was carried out at the Bajra Research Scheme, College of Agriculture, Dhule, Maharashtra, India. The experimental material required for this study was obtained by crossing seven assorted maintainer lines in a 7 X 7 half diallel mating design, excluding reciprocals, resulting in an experimental material comprising twenty-one crosses. These twenty-one crosses, along with their seven diverse parents, were assessed for combining ability with three replications by using a Randomised Block Design during kharif-2024. The ratio of \(\sigma\)2GCA to \(\sigma\)2SCA was assessed greater than one for earhead length and dry fodder yield per plant, indicating the presence of additive gene action, and for other traits under study revealed the presence of non-additive gene action. The inbreds DHLB-893B and DHLB-895B recorded as good general combiners for six characters each, and DHLB-23B turned out to be best for four characters, attaining high per se performance and showing consistent performance for grain yield and other yield contributing characters, which can be exploited in hybridisation programs for the purpose of generating a high degree of variability. Cross combinations DHLB-36B X DHLB-893B and DHLB-10B X DHLB-14B displayed significant SCA effects in a desirable direction for grain yield, along with five other characters contributing to yield. Cross combination DHLB-10B X DHLB-14B recorded as a specific combiner for grain yield (6.746) along with days to 50% flowering (-2.074), plant height (8.896), number of effective tillers per plant (0.267), earhead length (3.066) and dry fodder yield per plant (6.944). For grain yield, nine crosses were found as specific combiners, and the range of crosses varied between -6.587 (DHLB-10B X DHLB-893B) to 11.92 (DHLB-893B X DHLB-895B). The inclusion of such promising crosses in breeding programs may facilitate the generation of broad genetic variability, thereby providing a valuable resource for future genetic improvement in pearl millet.