Heterosis for grain yield components in Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) R.Br.]

Abstract

An experiment comprised of 70 genotypes consisting of 54 hybrids resulting from Line × Tester mating design involving 15 parental line and standard check (GHB-558) was conducted at Center for Crop Improvement, S. D. Agricultural University, Saradarkrushinagar (Gujarat) during kharif-2014 for studying the extent of hybrid vigour in F₁ for grain yield and its components. The hybrid ICMA-96333 × J-2454 show significant positive relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for harvest index and protein content and also showed significant positive standard heterosis for Zn content and hybrid JMSA-20072 × J-2512 showed significant positive standard heterosis for Fe content. The significant economic heterosis in desirable direction was observed in most of the high heterotic hybrid of a grain yield per plant number of effective tillers per plant and Zn content which indicating that the maximum contribution of this character towards yield heterosis.