Combining ability effects were estimated for grain yield and smut severity in a line × tester crossing programme comprising 70 hybrids produced by crossing 10 lines (5 male sterile and their 5 maintainer lines) with 7 restorers of diverse origin The material was raised in two environments (dates or sowing) at Hissar. Parents and hybrids differed significantly for gca and sea effects, respectively, 10 A and 10 B among lines and H 833-2 among testers showed consistently high gca effects for grain yield and smut severity. Both additive and nonadditive gene effects seemed to be important in the control of the two characters. No cytoplasmic effect was observed in the development of smut disease. Among hybrids, the best performance was given by cross 10 A×77/181-4-4-3-1-5. The results indicated that the performance of hybrids for smut severity can be predicted with greater reliability based on gca alone than for grain yield.
Pennisetum typhoides, pearl millet, combining ability, smut, line×tester
