STUDIES ON HETEROSIS IN PEARL MILLET [PENNISETUM GLAUCUM (L.) R. BR.]

Four cytoplasmic genic male sterile lines were crossed with 12 diverse pollinators in line x
tester design to study the nature and magnitude of heterosis for grain yield and its seven
component traits in pearl millet. The extent of heterosis varied in each cross for all the characters
studied. The high magnitude of heterosis was observed for grain yield per plant, fodder yield per
plant and ear heads weight per plant; medium level of heterosis was exhibited for days to 50 %
flowering, days to maturity, node number per plant and 1000-grain weight. While, low amount
of heterosis was recorded only for threshing index. Among 48 crosses, 36 and 4 hybrids exhibited
significant and positive heterosis over better parent (heterobeltiosis) and standard check (GHB-
719) (standard heterosis), respectively, for grain yield. The maximum positive heterosis of 105.71
and 11.30 per cent over better parent and standard check, respectively, was recorded for grain
yield per plant. Three most promising hybrids viz., JMSA-20072 x J-2290, JMSA-20073 x H-77/
833-2 and ICMA-98444 x J-2498 having high heterosis, per se performance coupled with high
sca effects involved both or at least one good combiner parents for grain yield. The heterosis in
grain yield may be attributed to its component traits, mainly, ear head weight and dry fodder
yield per plant.