International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2017, Volume : 5, Issue : 4
First page : (2121) Last page : (2129)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2956
Combining Ability and Gene Action Studies for Grain Yield and Component Characters in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Under Arid Condition of Rajasthan
Kanti Lal Solanki1*, Mahendar Singh Bhinda2, P. C. Gupta3, Harkesh Saini4 and
Lipendr Kumar Saini5
1,2 Ph. D. Plant Breeding and Genetics, 3Professor,4,5M.Sc. Scholar
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, S. K. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan
*Corresponding Author E-mail: kantipbg@gmail.com
Received: 8.05.2017 | Revised: 17.05.2017 | Accepted: 20.05.2017
ABSTRACT
The experiment was conducted with 50 hybrids which were generated through L ´ T mating design using 10 lines and 5 testers as parental material along with 3 standard check hybrids and evaluated in RBD with 3 replications during kharif 2014 season to study combining ability along with inheritance of grain yield and component characters of pearl millet. The analysis of variance revealed significant difference among all the hybrids for all the characters studied. Ratio of GCA and SCA variances was below unity for all the characters which indicate of greater role of non-additive genetic variance in the inheritance of these traits. The per cent contribution of lines to total variance in hybrids were higher in magnitude as compared to testers for the characters ear head length (cm), test weight (g) and harvest index while testers were higher for the characters days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), no. of effective tillers/plant, ear head diameter, biological yield/plant (g) and seed yield/ plant (g) and lines ´ testers were higher for characters viz. harvest index, ear head diameter (cm) and ear head length. The degree of dominance (σ2D/σ2A)0.5 was found greater than unity for all the characters, indicating the over dominance. Among the female parents, RMS 6A, ICMA 92777 and JMSA 20073 were identified as good general combiners for grain yield per plant and some other component traits. Amongst male parents, H77/833-2 and RIB 57SO5 were good general combiner for most of the characters. Among the fifty hybrids, nine hybrids showed the best performance with significantly positive sca effect for grain yield. The cross combinations JMSA 20073 × RCB-IC 925 S3 19-3-1, ICMA 04999 × H77/833-2 and RMS 6A × MIR 97092-2-4 were recorded the significant sca effect in desirable direction for grain yield and some other important characters. Thus, these hybrids can be commercially exploited through heterosis breeding programme after testing in multi-locational trial.
Key words: Pennisetum glaucum, Combining ability, L ´ T mating design, GCA, SCA.
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Solanki, K.L., Bhinda, M.S., Gupta, P.C., Saini, H. and Saini, L.K., Combining Ability and Gene Action Studies for Grain Yield and Component Characters in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Under Arid Condition of Rajasthan, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.5(4): 2121-2129 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2956
