Heterosis and variability studies for yield and yield components traits in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to study the heterosis and variability parameters by using 41 hybrids along with a check during kharif 2015. The per se performance and standard heterosis revealed that the hybrids viz., NHB 999, NPH-5286, AHB-1157 and 86M90 were found to be superior for single plant yield along with days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of productive tillers per plant, earhead length and 1000 seed weight. High level of phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the studied traits. High heritability along with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed in number of productive tillers per plant, 1000 seed weight, seed set per cent and single plant yield. Single plant yield positively and significantly correlated with plant height, 1000 seed weight and seed set per cent. These traits could be used as selection indices for pearl millet yield improvement.

Keywords

• pearl millet
• heterosis
• variability and correlation