Analysis of variance for means revealed significant differences for seven characters. Close agreement between GCA and per se performance of parents was observed for most of the characters studies. Combinations having high per se performance also had high SCA effects and involved at least onegood general combining parent. Among females, MS 88004 A was the best general combiner for grain yield and other seven characters. Among restorers AIB-214 was best general combiner for grain yield plant height, earhead girth, Earhead Length, fodder yield per plant. The combination MS 88004 A x AIB-214 was the best specific combination for grain yield per plant whereas the combination MS 841 A x IC-1179 for grain yield per plant, height total number of tillers per plant and earhead girth, earhead length.
Pearl Millet, GCA, SCA, Line, ester
