Heterosis for Grain Yield Components in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)

An experiment comprised of five male sterile lines and 30 inbred testers of pearl millet and their 150 hybrids was conducted at millet breeding station, Center for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2005-2007 for studying the extent of hybrid vigour in F1 for grain yield and its components. Highest and significant negative relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis was observed in the cross ICMA 94111A x PT 5259 and the same combination showed negative relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for the trait plant height. The cross combination ICMA 94111A x PT 5423 showed higher magnitude of positive relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis for the trait total number of tillers. Highest and significant positive standard heterosis was recorded in ICMA 88004A x PT 5164 for total number of tillers. The hybrid cross combination ICMA 94111A x PT 5423 showed highest and significant relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for total productive tillers. The hybrid ICMA 88004A x PT 5181 recorded highest and significant positive standard heterosis for ear head length and 100 grain weight, ICMA 88004A x PT 5200 for ear head girth. 13 hybrids recorded highly significant standard heterosis for grain yield per plant. among 150 hybrids studied, seven hybrids namely ICMA 88004 A x PT 5164, ICMA 88004 A x PT 5200, ICMA 88004 A x PT 5232, ICMA 88004 A x PT 5130, ICMA 88004 A x PT 5173, 732 A x PT 5172 and ICMA 88004 A x PT 5809 were selected as best crosses since they expressed high standard heterosis over standard hybrid (MBH163) for many of the traits studied for high grain yield