Genetic analysis and heterosis for quality traits in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Abstract

The experiment was conducted with 60 hybrids developed by crossing two male sterile lines with 30 diverse testers studied for gene action and heterosis. ANOVA for combining abilities revealed that the parents are significantly different and diverse for all the traits under study. The ratio of gca:sca variance was found less than unity indicating the presence of non-additive gene action and the average degree of dominance was greater than unity indicated the predominance of over dominance. Among the parents, the tester 2325 was a good combiner and offers the development of genotypes with improved quality traits along with grain yield. The crosses ICMA 04999 × 2325 for iron content, ICMA 97111 × 2310 and ICMA 97111 × 2342 for zinc content, ICMA 97111 × 2395, ICMA 97111 × 2310 and ICMA 04999 × 2386 for protein content and ICMA 04999 × 2349 for rancidity exhibited significantly high standard heterosis, can be utilized for commercial cultivation after testing under multilocational trials.

Keywords

• pearl millet
• gca
• sca
• gene action
• quality traits
• standard heterosis