Department of Genetics Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141 004, India
Phytic acid content in pearl millet is important because it impairs digestibility thereby reducing the quality of grain. Genetic analysis of phytic acid content was undertaken in 66 F1’s (12 X 12 diallel excluding reciprocals and parents) and 36 F1’s (12 lines X 3 testers). Crosses in both the experiments differ significantly among themselves. Both gca and sca component of variance are significant in diallel but only sea component in Line X Tester progenies. Non additive gene effects are important for phytic acid as revealed by both the analyses. Heterosis or population improvement programmes can be undertaken to have low phytic acid cultivars.
