Combining Ability, Heterosis and Stability Analysis in Pearl Millet

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] is the sixth most important global cereal crop which is grown by subsistence farmers in the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent (Haussmann et al., 2012). it is believed to have originated in Africa (Vavilov,1950 and Murdock, 1959), from where it was introduced to India. It is an important coarse grain drought tolerant warm season cereal which belongs to family Poaceae and is commonly known as bajra in different parts of the country. Pearl millet is a highly cross-pollinated diploid (2x=14) annual C4 crop with protogynous flowering nature, wind-borne pollination mechanism and availability of efficient cytoplasmic genetic male sterility system. It is extensively cultivated as dual-purpose crop over large area in Africa, Asia, Australia and also as forage crop in the sub-tropics of USA.