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A line x tester analysis using four lines and twelve testers was carried out to study the combining ability and gene action for grain yield and other morpho-nutritional traits in pearl millet. Analysis of variance for combining ability revealed that significant differences among the mean squares was observed for lines, testers and lines x testers for all the characters except for mean squares due to lines for days to 50 % flowering, days to maturity, ear head girth, number of grain per sq.cm, grain Zn content (mg/kg) and due to testers for grain Fe content (mg/kg). Among the lines, DHLB-18A and the testers K-13/991, K-13/999 and K-13/1005 displayed high GCA effect for grain yield per plant and for some desirable traits. Significant and positive SCA effect for grain yield per plant was displayed by the cross DHLB-17A x K-13/1005 (average x good), followed by DHLB-16A x K-13/1008, DHLB-15A x K-13/1017, and DHLB-15A x K-13/995. These crosses involved either average x average, good x poor, poor x poor or good x average general combining parents. These crosses have been identified as best hybrids for improving grain yield per plant and could be further evaluated to confirm their stable superior performance.

Key words: Pearl millet, Combining ability, Gene action, Line x tester analysis