Detection of digenic epistasis in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

The present investigation entitled “Detection of digenic epistasis in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]” was conducted at Pearl millet Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Jamnagar and Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. The research comprised two distinct objectives; the first involved to study the nature and magnitude of gene effects using six-parameter model; while the second aim was to estimate the extent of heterosis and inbreeding depression for grain yield, its component traits and mineral biofortification traits (Fe and Zn). The analysis of variance among families (Crosses) revealed that the mean squares due to three crosses were highly significant for five characters viz days to initiation of flowering, number of effective tillers per plant, ear head length, ear head diameter and Zn content. The analysis of variance among progenies within each family revealed significant differences among six generation means for all the characters studied in all the three crosses except ear head diameter and Fe content in cross 3. All the digenic interactions in six parameter model were found significant for days to 80% maturity and grain yield per plant in Cross 1; days to 80% maturity, Plant height, ear head diameter, grain yield per plant, Fe content and Zn content in Cross 2. Significant and desired better-parent heterosis was observed for days to initiation of flowering, days to 80% maturity, plant height, number of effective tillers per plant, grain yield per plant, fodder yield per plant, Fe content and Zn content in all three crosses. Inbreeding depression was found significant for days to initiation of flowering, days to 80% maturity, number of effective tillers per plant, grain yield per plant, fodder yield per plant, 1000-grain weight, Fe content and Zn content in all three crosses.