Abstract

Ten sweet pearl millet genotypes were crossed in a partial diallel and the resultant 45 hybrids were evaluated for their combining ability for 10 different fodder attributes. The results indicated that juice volume, leaf-stem ratio, number of tillers and plant height were largely under the influence of additive genes. The characters, green fodder yield, dry matter yield, days to 50 per cent flowering, number of leaves, leaf length and crude protein were influenced equally by both additive and dominant genes. Among the parents, Co-7, ICMV 87111 and TNSC-1 were the best general combiners for green fodder yield, and dry matter yield. AFB-48-1 was found to be the best general combiner for crude protein. Among the hybrids AFB 48-1 x PCB 87-24, AFB 48-1 x HC-4 and APFB 2x Co-7 were found to be the best specific combiners for green and dry fodder yield.

Keywords: Sweet Pearl Millet, Fodder Attributes, Combining Ability