Heterosis of Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Hybrids Involving Diverse CGMS Lines and Restorers

The experimental material comprised of five female lines, ten male lines of pearl millet, their 50 hybrids developed by line × tester design and one standard check hybrid (GHB 1231). They were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications at Main Pearl Millet Research Station, J.A.U., Jamnagar during kharif 2023 for studies extent and magnitude of heterotic effects of hybrids over better parent and standard check. The analysis of experimental variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes, parents and crosses for all the traits studied. The heterobeltiosis for grain yield per plant was laid between -56.38% to 97.86%, while, the standard heterosis ranged from -53.30% to 82.97%. The maximum value of standard heterosis was recorded for grain yield per plant by cross JMSA5 20212 × J-2637 (82.97%) followed by ICMA1 94555 × J-2580 (81.49%) and JMSA5 20212 × J-2562 (72.35%). Further exploitation of these crosses might produce desirable hybrid of pearl millet.