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

An experiment comprised of 4 male sterile line and 10 inbred tester of pearl millet and their 40 hybrids was carried out at Post Graduate Institute, Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during Kharif, 2019 for studying the extent of hybrid vigour in F1 for yield and its components. For the days to 50 per cent flowering, and days to maturity highest significant negative relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis was observed in cross DHLB-27A X S-19/17 and DHLB-27A X S-19/22. The cross combination DHLB-21A X S-19/24 and DHLB-24 X S-19/25 showed higher magnitude of positive standard heterosis and heterobeltiosis for the trait number of tillers/plant, earhead length. The hybrid DHLB-24A X S-19/24 recorded highest and significant positive relative heterosis for earhead girth and DHLB-21A X S-19/25, DHLB-23A X S-19/20 for fodder yield/plant and1000 grain weight. The hybrid DHLB-24A X S-19/27 expressed very high percentage heterosis for grain yield also exhibited significant heterosis in desirable direction for other nine characters. So study on vigorous testing for stability of these good hybrids should be taken for further commercial exploitation.