Asian Journal of Bio Science

V. P. Chaudhary ¹, K. K. Dhedhi ¹, H. J. Joshi ¹, J. S. Sorathiya ¹

Affiliations
1 Pearl Millet Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Jamnagar (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

A set of 60 genotypes comprising of 45 F₁s along with fertile counter parts of five male sterile lines, nine testers and one standard check hybrid (GHB-744) were utilized to study the correlation and path analysis for nine quantitative characters in pearl millet during Kharif season of 2011-2012. Correlation studies revealed that the characters viz., ear head weight, number of nodes per plant, fodder yield per plant and harvest index exhibited significant positive correlation with grain yield indicated major role of these traits in contribution of grain yield. Path co-efficient analysis showed that ear head length, harvest index, number of nodes per plant and fodder yield per plant were the most important characters manifesting large positive direct effects on grain yield. The high association of fodder yield per plant, harvest index and number of nodes per plant with grain yield and their inter-associations and also their large direct effect on grain yield suggest that these traits merit maximum emphasis in selection for improvement of grain yield in pearl millet.

Keywords

Correlation Co-Efficient, Path Analysis, Pearl Millet, Grain Yield.

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S. H. Bhanderi ¹, C. J. Dangaria ², K. K. Dhedhi ²

Affiliations
1 College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat), IN
2 Millet Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Jamnagar (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

Combining ability was studied in 8×8 diallel set, excluding reciprocals, for grain yield and its 12 attributes in pearl millet. Both GCA and SCA variances were highly significant for all characters. The predictability ratio of GCA and SCA revealed preponderance of additive genetic variance for plant height, ear head length, ear head girth and 1000 grain weight, whereas, non-additive genetic variance for days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, number of effective tillers per plant, fodder yield per plant, harvest index and grain yield per plant, while, both were equally important for number of nodes, ear head weight and threshing index. The parents like J-2420, J-2441, J-2440 and J-2340 were identified as good general combiners for grain yield per plant and some other components. Majority of their crosses had also displayed significant and desirable SCA effects, coupled with high per se performance for grain yield per plant. The hybrids viz., J-2420×J-2480, J-2340×J-2440 and J-2440×J-2420 were the most promising having good SCA, along with with high per se performance and heterobeltiosis for grain yield. Analyses of crosses revealed majority of the superior crosses were involved high×low; and few cases high×high or low×low general combiners.

Keywords

Combining Ability, Pearl Millet, Diallel Cross, Grain Yield.

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