Abstract
The degree of heterosis as expressed in respect of grain yield and eight other related quantitative traits (length and diameter of peduncle, surface area of primary ear, density of grain, yield of primary ear, plant height, tillering capacity and yield of straw) as compared to the value of mid-parent, the higher parent of the cross and the best of the lot studied was estimated for all the hybrids of a ten-parent pearl millet diallel cross. The percentage frequency of hybrids with significant heterosis was calculated for all the characters. Parents capable of producing highly heterotic hybrids were marked out.
The four parents which were outstanding in their ability to produce highly heterotic hybrids belong to different geographical regions. Only the vegetative characters,viz., length of peduncle, plant height and yield of straw exhibited marked reciprocal differences.
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Communicated by Prof. T. S. Sadasivan,f.a.sc.
A part of the Ph.D. Thesis, University of Madras, India (October, 1965). Work done at The Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore, India.
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Mahadevappa, M. Studies on heterosis in pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides stapf and Hubb.). Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 67, 180–186 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053870
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03053870