GENETIC ANALYSIS FOR YIELD AND QUALITY TRAITS IN FORAGE PEARL MILLET [PENNISETUM GLAUCUM, (L.) R. BR.]
G. C. SHINDE* AND S. S. MEHETRE
Grass Breeding Scheme, Department of Agricultural Botany,
Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri-413722, Dist Ahmednagar (Maharashtra)
(e-mail:goraksh2010@gmail.com)
(Received 30 September 2014 Accepted: 27 December 2014)
SUMMARY
Genetic analysis was carried out in 28 F1 hybrids and their 8 diverse parents for green fodder yield, its quality and other related traits in Kharif and Summer seasons. Predominant non-additive type gene effects for green forage yield as well as other yield contributing and quality traits were observed. The parents Giant bajra, RHRB-282 and RHRB-278 had good gca effects for green forage yield and component characters. The cross combinations viz., Giant bajra x RHRB-282, PMFT-907 x RHRB-278, RHRB-259 x RHRB-260, Giant bajra x PMFT-905 and PMFT-905 x PMFT-907 displayed significant and positive sca effects and heterosis over mid and better parent for green forage yield and other related traits in both the seasons. It is suggested to undertake multiple crossing programme among high general combiners for various traits and desirable segregants in early generation may be subjected to biparental mating for the accumulation of favourable genes for various forage yield and quality traits.
Key words:Pearl millet, genetic analysis, combining ability, Gene action, heterosis