Heterosis and combining ability of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] hybrids involving diverse CMS lines and restorers

摘要

A study was undertaken to evaluate the magnitude of heterosis, mean performance and combining ability variance and effects of eight male sterile lines each in A_4 and A_1 CMS sources, nine diverse restorers and their 144 crosses in line * tester design in pearl millet for grain yield and component characters. The resultant FjS along-with parents and one check hybrid RHB 121 were evaluated in RED with three replications at Mandor and at Jobner during kharif 2003. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among genotypes for all the characters on pooled as well as in individual environments. Mean sum of squares due to parents vs. hybrids were significant for all the characters indicating presence of heterosis. The estimates of s~2gca ands~2sca variances were significant for most of the characters in both the environments indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene actions in the inheritance. Male sterile lines 81A_4, 81A_1 ICMA 92444(A_4), ICMA 92444(A_1), ICMA 88004(A_4), ICMA 88004(A_1) and ICMA 92333(A1) and restorers IPC 655, IPC 821, IPC 1518 and CZI/E 88 were found to be good general combiners for majority of characters. Hybrid combinations ICMA 92444(A_1) x IPC 655, ICMA 92333(A_1) * IPC 655, 81A_4 * IPC 1518, 81A_1 x IPC 821, ICMA 92333(A_1) x CZI/E 88, ICMA 92333(A_4) x IPC 655, ICMA 98111(A_4) x IPC 1518 and ICMA 92444(A_1) x CZI/E 88 showed consistence mean performance across the environments with average to high sea effects for grain yield per plant, component characters and downy mildew resistance (at Jodhpur). At cytoplasmic male sterility system was found comparatively better except earliness but both the sources have produced better hybrids for grain yield and component characters.