Combining Ability Analysis for Yield and its Components in Pearl Millet

A diallel cross comprising of nine inbreds of pearl millet was studied. Analysis of combining ability revealed that both general and specific combining ability variances were significant for ail the characters. Comparatively, additive gene effects were larger for plant height, number of ear bearing tillers per plant, number of internodes per main shoot and grain yield per plant. For remaining characters non-additive gene effects were found playing a dominant role in the inheritance. The best general combiner is Ici 7504. Mostly high × high general combiners produced high s.c.a. effects. In general, the presence of at least one good general combiner is essential in a cross producing high s.c.a. effect. High specific combining ability for grain yield per plant appears to be due to high s.c.a. effects for yield contributing characters.