Unravelling the Interplay of General Combining Ability and Per Se Performance for Grain Yield and Nutritional Quality Traits in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Author: Rakshith P., Ayyanna, Hemanth P., I. Shanker Goud and B.V. Tembhurne

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Abstract

Selecting superior parental lines is essential for enhancing yield and quality traits in pearl millet hybrid breeding. This study assessed the general combining ability (GCA) of parental lines and their relationship with per se performance, focusing on grain yield and quality. Two sets of 72 test crosses involved 24 parental lines and 12 testers, evaluated across multiple locations. Statistical analyses, including Analysis of variance, combining ability, and correlation assessments, identified good general combiners. R-L1, R-L10, B-L7, B-L8, and B-L1 displayed the highest GCA effects for grain yield. The positive correlation between per se performance and GCA effects suggests that high GCA lines have the potential to perform well in different yield categories, making their selection in high-yield lines a more rewarding choice for seed production. A significant positive correlation between GCA effects and hybrid performance underlines the predictive power of GCA in enhancing breeding efficiency and reducing resource consumption in developing high-yielding single-cross hybrids in pearl millet.

Keywords

General combining ability, Per se performance, Correlation, Analysis of Variance, Line × tester

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study on the interplay of GCA and per se performance in pearl millet provides useful insights for the improvement of grain yield and nutritional quality traits in pearl millet hybrid breeding programs. The identification of good general combiners, such as R-L1, R-L10, B-L7, B-L8, and B-L1, based on their GCA effects for grain yield, underscores the significance of selecting superior parental lines. The positive no significant correlation observed between per se performance and GCA effects implies that high GCA lines have the potential to perform well across different yield categories, selecting them in high yielding backgrounds are promising candidates for seed production. The study emphasizes the predictive power of GCA, as evidenced by the significant positive correlation between sum of parental GCA effects and hybrid performance. This predictive capability of GCA can enhance breeding efficiency, allowing for the development of high-yielding single-cross hybrids in pearl millet while reducing resource consumption required for testing unnecessary crosses. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of considering both GCA and per se performance in the selection of parental lines for hybrid breeding strategies.

References

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How to cite this article

Rakshith P., Ayyanna, Hemanth P., I. Shanker Goud and B.V. Tembhurne (2023). Unravelling the Interplay of General Combining Ability and Per Se Performance for Grain Yield and Nutritional Quality Traits in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 875-882.