Exploitation of heterosis for enhanced biomass and nutritional superiority in forage pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)
Pramit P. Patel
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar
Y. A. Viradiya
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar
Dhruv Pankajkumar Joshi badge
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar
Corresponding author
Kishor K. Varotariya
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar
Dixita H. Padhiyar
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar
Vasu R. Davra
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C. P. College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar
Abstract
By 2050, green fodder scarcity for livestock in India is estimated to reach 18.50%. With limited scope for horizontal land expansion, increasing forage productivity through genetic improvement is essential. Fodder pearl millet can meet this challenge due to its rapid growth, drought tolerance, high biomass accumulation, and absence of toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Therefore, this study was conducted to identify highly vigorous elite F1 hybrids by estimating standard heterosis and heterobeltiosis across 14 morphological, yield, phenological, and nutritional traits. A total of 54 genotypes, including 40 F1 hybrids were developed via a Line × Tester mating design, and evaluated in kharif 2024 in Randomized Block Design. Analysis of variance showed highly significant genetic variability among the genotypes for all the traits. The hybrid 'AFB-66 × RBB-1' showed exceptional performance, recording the highest green fodder yield (175.67 g/plant) alongside a standard heterosis of 31.42%. Also, 'AFB-23 × GIANT BAJRA' and 'AFB-23 × BAIF' showed higher total biomass. 'AFB-67 × BAIF' was the early maturing hybrids (-19.15% standard heterosis), while 'AFB-23 × AFB-45' had higher dry matter accumulation (21.76% standard heterosis), which is showing superior combinations of qualitative and developmental traits. Improvements in leaf morphology with better palatability, were noticeable in crosses like 'AFB-25 × BAIF'. Regarding nutritional quality, 'AFB-21 × ICMO-1604' showed a 42.86% standard heterosis for crude protein, and 'AFB-66 × ICMO-1604' showed a 13.92% standard heterosis for iron content. Noticeably, HC-20 × ICMO-1604 showed both higher crude protein content (9.30%) and higher iron content (11.09 mg/100g) compared to check. The study concludes that targeted crossing of diverse lines can simultaneously enhance vegetative bulk, dry matter density, phenological adaptability, and nutritional quality. Also, this study identified specific elite crosses with immense potential for commercial release, and thus increasing forage production in the country. The analysis of heterosis of the presented hybrids will be helpful for further top cross analysis which is important for forage breeding.