HETEROSIS FOR GRAIN YIELD, RANCIDITY AND ASSOCIATED CHARACTERS IN PEARL MILLET (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Abstract

Heterosis for grain yield, rancidity and associated characters was studied in pearl millet in line × tester design. Thirty two crosses were generated using eight CMS lines and four testers and evaluated along with parental lines and two checks to estimate heterosis for ten characters in pearl millet. Non-additive gene action was predominant for all the characters under study except effective tillers per plant. None of the hybrids showed significant heterosis over the check 86 M 86 for grain yield, while hybrids
92777A × R22, 97111A × R39 and 04999A × 08222R showed ignificantly positive heterosis of 254.81, 230.28 and 214.98 respectively over the check HHB 67. The hybrids 03666A × 08222R, 05444A × 08222R and 98222A × 08222R exhibited significantly lower negative standard heterosis over the check 86 M 86 for alcoholic acididty at 5th day of storage indicating higher longevity in these lines.