Genetic Studies in Relation to Population Improvement in Pearl Millet

Two hundred reciprocal half sibs (RHS), 200 reciprocal full sins (RFS) and 200 S, families (100 of each kind in each population), derived from two random mating pearl millet populations, PSB-3 and PSB-7, were evaluated at two locations. The S, families of both populations generally yielded less than the RHS families for all the characters. The RHS families were poorer than RFS ones. The higher values associated with RHS and RFS progenies indicated the importance of interpopulation heterosis. The variance among S, families for different characters invariably exceeded that amongst the RHS families and tended to be higher than that amongst the RFS families. Genetically, more heterogeneous RHS progenies exhibited least interaction with location differences, whereas the other two types had more or less equal sensitivity to variation of locations. Substantial genetic variation was noted among various families for almost all the characters studied, suggesting good scope for intra- and interpopulation improvement.