Study of combining ability for seed yield and its component traits in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Abstract

Combining ability for seed yield and its component traits in bajara was studied using line x tester mating design involving five diverse male sterile lines and nine male lines. Analysis of variance revealed that, there is highly significant difference among the parents for all the traits under study. The analysis for combining ability revealed significant mean sum of squares of both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) for all the characters which indicated the presence of both additive and non-additive gene actions. Five parental lines, JMSA 20102 and ICMA 04999 among the females and J-2508, J-2503 and J-2433 among the males, exhibited good general combining ability effects for seed yield per plant and important yield components. The best three hybrids on the basis of significant positive sca effects for seed yield per plant were JSMA 20102 x J-2496 (good x good), JMSA 20102 x J-2479 (good x good combiners) and ICMA 841 x J-2500(poor x average combiners). The top high yielding hybrids JMSA 20102 x J-2496 and JMSA 20102 x J-2479, with significant heterobeltiosis as well as standard heterosis, also depicted significant sca effects for seed yield per plant.