COMBINING ABILITY OF PEARL MILLET LANDRACES ORIGINATING FROM ARID AREAS OF RAJASTHAN

Abstract

The combining ability of sixteen landraces of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (1.) R. Br.) originating from the arid area of western Rajasthan was determined for four traits by evaluating their crosses in 12 environments grouped into three zones. Three varieties (as pollinator controls) and their hybrids were also included. The results indicated that general combining ability (GCA) effects were more important in the genetic control of grain yield and stover yield, while both GCA and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were important for time to flower and 100-seed weight. The GCA effects were influenced by environments. IP 3333 was identified as best general combiner for grain yield for north dry (ND) zone, Ip· 3228 for north wet (NW) zone and IP 3188 for terminal stress (TS) zone. GCA effects of most pollinators varied substantially across three production zones. However, a few good combiners across all environments were identified. None of the pollinators exhibited desirable GCA effects for all traits simultaneously. The landraces established their superiority as pollinators over high yielding controls under dry conditions of north India. GCA estimates of pollinators with respect to grain yield for ND zone could not be predicted from evaluation of crosses in NW and TS zones.