Magnitude of heterosis in hybrids derived from diverse cytoplasmic male sterility sources of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

To assess the magnitude heterosis in hybrids carrying different cytoplasms for different traits. The 300 hybrids were developed by crossing of five different cytoplasmic male sterile lines and 60 diverse restorers in Line × tester design. The hybrids were grouped by their cytoplasmic sources (A1, PT732A and A4). The mean and range of heterosis and number of desirable crosses were calculated in each of the group for ten traits. The results revealed that, considerable and differential expression of heterosis was observed for different quantitative characters in hybrids based on different cytoplasm. The lesser magnitude of heterosis was observed for days to 50% flowering and days to maturity in A1 sources as compared to PT732A and A4 cytoplasmic source and vice versa for plant height and productive tillers per plant. But for other traits the cytoplasmic effect was conspicuous. These results suggest that there exists ample opportunity to exploit these diverse sources in pearl millet hybrid breeding to raise the productivity in Pearl millet.