Abstract

A 10 x 10 half diallel excluding reciprocals was evaluated to study the combining ability and gene action involved in respect of yield and yield attributes in pearl millet. Analysis of variance indicated highly significant differences among mean squares due to general and specific combining ability for all the characters studied. The estimates of general combining ability (gca) effects indicated that J 2340 was the best general combiner for grain yield/plant, 1000-grain weight, dry earhead weight, dry. fodder weight/plant, effective tillers/plant, days to 50% flowering and days to maturity. Out of 45 cross combinations, only three combinations J 104 x J 2327, J 2257 x J 1188 and J 2349 x GP 619 showed significant and positive specific combining ability (sea) effects for grain yield/plant, and other yield attributing characters.