Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delki-110 012.
*Part of thesis submitted by V. S. Verma for the Ph. D. Degree of the IARI, New Delhi-110 012.
Combining ability analyses were done for eleven characters in a diallel set of 19 fodder lines of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) S. & H.), at two locations. These analyses indicated significant variance due to general combing ability and due to specific combining ability for all of the characters studied, green and dry fodder yields, early growth vigour, days to 50% flowering, plant height, stem thickness, number, length, breadth and area of leaves and regeneration capacity at Delhi. The interactions of σ2g and σ2s with locations were significant for all the traits except for leaf breadth and leaf area. There was, in general, predominance of σ2s for most of the traits except for some leaf attributes.
Parents KF 674 and KF 677 (for green fodder yield) and KF 674, F 1284, Sel. 216 and S 530 for dry matter yield were good combiners. Crosses Sel. 216 × KF 674, Sel. 247 × Fod 422, KF 249 × IP 853, KF 674 × HN 17, KF 678 × Fod 422, Syn × A 1/3 and Syn × Fod 421 were good specific combiners for green as well as dry forage yield. Among these, Sel. 247 × Fod. 422, KF 249 × IP 853 and KF 674 × HN 17 were good combiners for tallness. KF 674 × RPC was early flowering with thin stem but with poor regeneration capacity.
