Analysis of genotype-environment interaction in pearl millet generations

Six generations (parents, F₁, F₂, BC₁ and BC₂) of three crosses, i.e. 78/614 x 77/144, 77/273 x 78/705 and 77/170 x 78/791 between two inbred lines of pearl millet were studied for estimation of gene effects. The material was grown at two locations: at Hisar under irrigated and at Bawal under rainfed conditions. The performance of the generations of the crosses was better at Hisar than at Bawal. The crosses and their generations showed significant interaction with environment. The least square estimates of the parameters of m, (d), (h), e₁, (gd₁) and (gh₁) revealed inadequacy of the additive-dominance model for plant height, ear length, ear weight, grain and dry fodder yield, indicating the role of genotype environment interaction, epistasis and/or linkage.