Component and Combining Ability Analyses in a 8x8 Diallel of Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides 3. & II.)

In a 8x8 complete diallel. involving five Indian and three exotic inbreds, characters, namely, ear length. ear girth and yield/plant revealed overdominance. whareso partial dominence conditioned effectiva tillars/plant, Variance due to GOA and SCA indicated that both additive as well as nonadditive gene actions were Important. however, nonadditive gene action was predominant for ear length, ear girth and yield/plant. Wide range of reciprocal effect was noticed for ear length, aar girth and yield/plant, and thus, due caution should be given at the time of solooting the pollinator and recipients in hybrid cand production. The GCA effect of tim parents, GCA effect of the crescoc and heteronic percentage over parent were inter-related. Mostly, the cross combinations involving one Indian and the other exotic Inbred, exhibited high degree of heterosis, Reciprocal recurrent selection was recommended to improve the pearl millet population, hattar