Combining Ability Studies for Grain Yield and Associated Traits in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum(L.) R. Br.]

The current investigation was undertaken during kharif-2023 at Bajra Research Scheme, College of Agriculture, Dhule. The experimental material for combining ability studies was developed during summer-2023 and evaluated for ten different characters in which twelve inbreds were used and crosses were made in a 12 X 12 half diallel mating design. The resulting sixty six
hybrids along with twelve parents and two checks were grown in randomized block design, with three replications during kharif 2023. The  2 GCA was higher than  2 SCA for all yield and yield contributing characters indicating the presence of additive and nonadditive gene action, and could be improved through recurrent selection for SCA, by the way of inter-mating. The parents
viz., DHLBI- 2201, DHLBI- 2212, DHLBI- 2210, and DHLBI- 967 possessed high concentrations of favorable genes for the respective traits as they are having good GCA and highmean performance which can be further utilized in crossing programs in order to generate wide genetic variability for developing high yielding, early maturing hybrids/ varieties/ populations of pearl millet. The cross combinations viz., DHLBI-2201 X DHLBI-1825, DHLBI-2201 X DHLBI-2210, and DHLBI-2205 X DHLBI-2208 were identified as best for SCA effects. GCA effect of both these parents involved in the above cross combination was also good x average combiner. Hence, these combinations can be suggested for future breeding strategies. Also, in pearl millet mostly CGMS system is used and there restorers play a major role. This research primarily focuses on the aspect of development of the restorer.