Heterosis and combining ability studies for yield and yield attributing characters in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.).

Abstract

Heterosis and combining ability for yield and yield attributing characters were studied in finger millet through Line x Tester mating design using four lines and four testers. Combining ability analysis showed the predominant role of non-additive gene action for all the characters studied. The lines GE 4596 and GPU 28 and the testers L 5 and GPU 69 had recorded high per se and gca for yield and most of the yield contributing characters studied. The hybrid GE 4596 x L 5 and GE 4596 x GPU 69 had significant and superior per se performance for grain yield per plant, straw yield per plant, finger length, peduncle length, number of fingers per ear, culm thickness and number of productive tillers per plant. The hybrid GE 4596 x L 5 exhibited high sca effect for plant height , number of productive tillers per plant, finger length, peduncle length, days to 50per cent flowering, straw yield per plant, grain yield per plant and test weight. Studies on specific combining ability effects, indicates that the crosses viz., GE 4596 x L 5, GE 6216 x GPU 48 and GE 4906 x GPU 48 have significant sca effects for most of the characters. The hybrids, GE 4596 x L 5, GE 4596 x GPU 69 and GPU 28 x L 5 were from parents with high x high gca and GE 4596 x GE 5095, GE 6216 x GPU 69, GE 4906 x GPU 69 and GPU 28 x GE 5095 were from parents with high x low gca combinations. Thus, six crosses are suggested for realization of transgressive segregants in F2 and subsequent generations. The five hybrids viz., GE 4596 x L 5, GE 4596 x GE 5095, GPU 28 x L 5, GPU 28 x GE 5095 and GE 4906 x GE 5095 showed significant heterosis for most of the traits over their parents