MULTI-ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT OF HETEROSIS AND COMBINING ABILITY IN PEARL MILLET (PENNISETUM GLAUCUM (L.) R. BR.) ACROSS TESTING LOCATIONS IN RAJASTHAN AND HARYANA

Abstract

Abundant in protein, balanced amino acids, CHO, fat, iron, and zinc, pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is a vital part of the average person's diet, which is free from gluten as well, and it is additionally known as a great source of nutrition for poultry and dairy animals. It is typically produced in marginal and submarginal soils under rainfed circumstances with low fertilizer inputs and is also capable of surviving at temperatures and drought conditions, resulting in poor and variable productivity. Despite high-yield hybrids, the pearl millet crop's productivity is erratic because of a number of environmental conditions that affect yield. Consequently, it is necessary to assess the availability of limited, basic, effective old germplasm in various parts of India and replace it with new-era germplasm; hence, the need to regularly assess heterosis and combining ability among germplasm created utilizing stability of various male sterility sources by mixing new and old germplasm from various sources and geographical locations. This work, therefore, conducted a genetic study on heterosis and combining ability in diverse agro-climatic zones of North-West India, including four locations: Jaipur & Alwar in Rajasthan and Rewari & Hisar in Haryana, for six female lines and five male testers, which will be mated using the line x tester design to produce thirty crosses. The experiment was carried out in the Kharif 2025–26 season using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) across four different environments, to test thirty F₁ hybrids that were produced through a Line × Tester mating arrangement along with parents. The findings pointed toward meaningful heterosis, along with higher and steadier performance for grain yield for several associated characters. Overall, the results clearly suggested that both additive as well as non-additive gene effects were involved and there was quite a lot of genetic diversity among the genotypes. Finally, the study shortlisted early maturing, high yielding, more stable, and broadly adapted hybrids, having real promise for pearl millet improvement programmes.