BALRAM SWAMI, HARSH V. S. SHEKHAWAT*, HEERALAL BARUPAL AND P. C. GUPTA
Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner-334 006
(Rajasthan), India
*(e-mail : shekhawat.hvs4@gmail.com)
(Received : July 15, 2017; Accepted : September 25, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Heterosis was conducted for 10 metric characters on 120 hybrids of pearl millet. Forty-five hybrids exhibited significant positive standard heterosis for grain yield per plant. Top high yielding hybrids identified were ICMA 97444 A x BIB 449, ICMA 92777 A x BIB 732, ICMA 94111 x BIB 353, ICMA 97111 x BIB 353, ICMA 97444 A x 395, ICMA 92777 A x BIB 455, ICMA 94111 A x BIB 455, JMSA 20073 x BIB 731, RMS 21 A x BIB 732 and JMSA 20042 x BIB 733. ICMA 97444 A x BIB 449 and ICMA 92777 A x BIB 732 were the best hybrids which had significance for eight and seven characters, respectively, while remaining eight test hybrids had significance for only six characters. ICMA 97444 A x BIB 449 and ICMA 92777 A x BIB 732 can be recommended for increasing pearl millet production and productivity in arid areas.
Key words : Heterosis, grain yield, hybrids, arid areas