The main objective related to heterosis breeding is to improve the oil content and seed yield of newly developed hybrids of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) using selected parental lines. The present experiment involved of four CMS lines and six testers which were crossed in line x tester fashion to estimate the heterosis for seed yield and yield contributing traits in sunflower. The resulting 24 hybrids were evaluated in two replications of randomized block design over two commercial checks LSFH-171 and LSFH-35 during Kharif 2018 at Oilseed Research Station, Latur. The morphological observations on ten quantitative characters were recorded. Range of standard heterosis in 24 hybrids over check, LSFH-171 ranged from-6.42 to 31.74, whereas the other check, LSFH-35 showed range from-13.56 to 13.56 for oil content while the extent of heterosis for seed yield in hybrid over LSFH-171 ranged from-20.51 to 37.18 while over the other check, LSFH-35 ranged from-6.06 to 62.12. Hybrid PET 89-1 x EC-601951 R exhibited a significant negative heterosis for early flowering and days to maturity over both checks. The hybrids viz., CMS 17 A X EC-601951 R, PET 89-1 x RHA-1-1 recorded a high significant heterosis in desirable direction over both standard checks, LSFH-171 and LSFH-35 for yield and yield contributing traits. These better performing hybrids can be used for exploiting hybrid vigour and needs to be evaluated in future sunflower breeding programme.

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is commonly known as bajra, cat-tail millet, or bulrush millet in different parts of the world. It is predominantly grown as a staple food grain and source of feed and fodder. In present study, 60 hybrids were produced by crossing four male sterile lines with ten diverse inbred lines in L x T mating design and analyzed in RBD with two replications to study combining ability effects. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed that mean squares due to parents and crosses were significant for all characters studied indicated significant differences for all characters. However, δ 2 gca / δ 2 sca ratio depicted preponderance of non additive gene action for all the characters except days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, earhead length and earhead girth, thereby suggesting the importance of both additive and non additive gene effects.

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