Study of genetic architecture for yield related traits in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Abstract

The investigation on study of genetic architecture for yield related traits in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] was carried out with an aim to study the combining ability and gene action for yield and yield contributing characters. The combination JMSA 20102 × 42182 R recorded highest magnitude of sca effect followed by JMSA 20071 × 42182 R, ICMA 08444 × GP-5 R, ICMA 03666 × GP-5 R and JMSA 20102 × 30133 R for grain yield per plant. Similarly, the combinations JMSA 20071 × 30133 R (ear head girth), ICMA 08444 × GP-5 R (number of effective tillers per plant), ICMA 05888 × GP-5 R (ear length), ICMA 03666 × 41530 R (test weight), JMSA 20071 × 42182 R (days to flowering, days to maturity), JMSA 20071 × 41530 R (plant height), JMSA 20102 × 42182 R (grain yield per plant, harvest index, protein content and zinc content) and JMSA 20102 × 41530 R (iron content) exhibited highly significant and maximum sca effects for the respective characters. The hybrid JMSA 20102 × 42182 R and ICMA 03666 × GP-5 R showed high per se performance and significant positive specific combining ability effect for grain yield per plant and some other important characters. Thus, these hybrids could commercially be exploited through heterosis breeding programme after testing in multi-location trials.