**Deptt. of Genetics, H. A. U., Hissar.
Deptt. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
*Part of a thesis submitted by F. Singh for the Ph.D. degree of the Banaras Hindu University. Varanasi, India.
The present investigation was undertaken with a view to characterise the nature and magnitude of genetic variation in respect to yield and its components involving F1 and F2 generations of a twelve parent diallel in pearl millet. Both additive and non-additive components were significant for all the characters in both the generations. Overdominance was observed for days to 50% flowering, effective tillers, ear length, ear girth, test weight and yield, but only partial dominance for plant height. There is complete agreement in conclusions drawn from analysis based on the parents and F1 and that based on parents and F2’s particularly in respect of degree of dominance.
