Genetic variability and character association analysis in pearl millet single cross hybrids under dry conditions of Rajasthan

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to study variability parameters and character association in 50 pearl millet single cross hybrids which were generated by crossing five male sterile lines with 10 genetically diverse restorers in line x tester mating design at ICRISAT, Hyderabad during Summer, 2018. These crosses were evaluated during Kharif, 2018 at College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner. The material was evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. The analysis of variance indicated the presence of significant genetic variability among the single crosses for all the characters studied. The characters like number of effective tillers per plant, plant height, ear head length, ear head diameter and grain yield per plant were highly variable and correlated to each other. Hence, major emphasis should be given on these characters for selection of genotypes in breeding programmes for developing high yielding cultivars in pearl millet.