Expected and Realised Response to Selection in Biparental and Selfed Populations of Pearl Millet

The present study was intended to examine the comparative selection response of progenies developed by biparental mating and selling. The predicted response to selection was computed by selecting 22 elites from 800 biparental progenies and 18 elites from 700 F3 progenies of a 22 × 22 diallel of dwarf bajra genotypes. The expected response of biparental progenies (A-series) and F3 progenies (T-series) to selection were examined for (i) Early growth vigour (ii) Synchrony of tillering (iii) Days to 50% heading (iv) Tiller number and (v) grain yield. The estimates of expected response to selection was poor for the first two traits while it was more favourable for days to heading, tiller number and grain yield. Elites developed from biparental progenies responded better to selection as compared to those developed from F3 progenies.