Combining ability analysis for grain yield and quality characters in pearl millet [Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone]

The objective of the present study is to estimate the combining ability efects among parents and their crosses in pearl millet, to identify promising cross combinations for grain yield and its component traits. In combining ability analysis, the extent of sca variance was higher than gca variance for all of the characters demonstrating the predominance of non-additive gene action except for panicle length and 1000-grain weight. The estimates of general combining ability suggested that parents, RIB 17 S/109, RIB 16300, RIB 37–40 S/17, RIB 13–16 S/17, ICMA 96666 and ICMA 94111 were good general combiners for yield and its contributing characters. The best hybrid, ICMA 94111 × RIB 16296 involved low × low performing parents which exhibited high positive and signifcant SCA efect for grain yield and most of the yield contributing and quality traits like protein, iron and zinc. These good combiner lines may be exploited to develop iron and zinc rich hybrids along with grain yield to alleviate malnutrition in people of the country.