Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum(L.) Leeke) has been a new forage crop of higher quality and yield in Korea since 1985. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of general and specific combining abilities for the important tratis incl...
Pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum(L.) Leeke) has been a new forage crop of higher quality and yield in Korea since 1985. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of general and specific combining abilities for the important tratis including yield and black streaked dwarf virus incidence in crosses of cytoplasmic-genic male sterile lines and fertile inbred lines of pearl millet. Cytoplasmic-genic male sterile lines T23DA and ICM81A reflected positive and higher GCA in contrast to other male sterile lines for heading time, plant height and green fodder yield. Similar results were observed for SCA effects for the traits. The magnitude of the estimates of GCA and SCA effects for the traits was dependent upon particular parent’s combining ability. For black streaked dwarf virus incidence degree, ICM81A presented negative and higher GCA in contrast to T23DA and other male sterile lines. The estimates of SCA effect for ICM81A×T186 were also high and positive for green fodder yield in Taegu where black streaked dwarf virus occurs severely every year. For green fodder yield, T23DA×T186 combination demonstrated the highest SCA effect in Suwon where no disease occurred. T186 of fertile inbred line was the best as a pollen parent in GCA and SCA effects for green fodder yield in both sites. Thus, it may be possible to predict which parental lines will provide the highest frequency of desirable combinations and segregates as based on the individual combining ability effects. T23DA×T186 combination produced 150 tons per hectare of green fodder in two years average of Suwon. Its leaf area index was 28.8 being higher than maize 5.8 and sorghum/sudan grass 19.5. However, ICM81A×T186 combination was the best for green fodder yield in Taegu due to severe black streaked dwarf virus incidence.