Combining Ability Studies for Grain Yield and its Components in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.)

Sixty hybrids of Pearl millet were produced by crossing six male sterile lines with ten diverse inbred lines were studied for combining ability effects. The analysis of variance revealed significant difference between par-ents for all the characters under studied. The estimates of combining ability variances suggested the importance of both additive and nonadditive gene action in the control of most of the characters. The mean degree of dominance (ó²_D/ó²_A)^0.5 was found greater than unity for characters productive tillers per plant, grain yield per plant, 1000 grain weight and earhead length, indicating the over dominance. The CGMS line JMSA-9904 was found as good general combiners for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and earhead length. The CGMS lines ICMA-98444 and ICMA-20041 were found good general combiner for productive tillers per plant and earhead girth but poor combiners for days to 50% flowering. ICMA-97111 was average combiners for all the characters. Three parents viz, J-2340, J-2507 and J-2490 were good general combiner for grain yield. Among the sixty hybrids, 14 hybrids showed the best performance with significantly positive sca effect forgrainyield. The cross ICMA-97111 x 236SB had significant and positive sca effects for grain yield per plant, earhead girth and days to maturity.