Heterosis studies in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.].

摘要

Heterosis in pearl millet was studied in a set of 8x8 diallel cross excluding reciprocals. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences for all the characters, suggesting the presence of considerable genetic diversity in the material studied. The magnitudes of heterosis varied from cross to cross for all the characters. It might be inferred that magnitude of heterotic effect was high for grain yield per plant, number of effective tillers per plant, number of grains per square cm and days to flowering; moderate for days to maturity, days to an thesis, earhead length, plant height, 1000-grain weight, whereas the least heterosis was observed for earhead weight, earhead girth, dry fodder yield per plant and harvest index. The crosses J-2454 x J-2340, 276-SB-07 x J-2480 and J-2480 x J-2454 exhibited the highest, significant and positive heterotic effect and mean performance for grain yield per plant and some of its component traits.