ABSTRACT. A study was under taken to quantify the magnitude of heterosis in pearl millet hybrids carrying different cytoplasmic male sterility systems. The results revealed that there was wide range in the magnitude of heterosis among the crosses for all traits under study. Majority of the hybrids carrying A4 cytoplasm were highly heterotic for the traits viz., days to maturity, plant height, ear head weight, grain yield/ear, grain yield /plant and ear length. On the other hand, majority of the A5 based hybrids were highly heterotic for productive tillers, ear length, flag leaf area and peduncle length. The mean as well as range of heterosis for days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, flag leaf area and 1000 grain weight was limited in all the three sources of cytoplasm. The magnitude of heterosis was high for ear weight, grain yield/ear and grain yield/plant. The A5 cytoplasmic source exhibited pronounced heterotic effect on productive tillers /plant and peduncle length compared to other sources (A1 and A4). Similarly the A4 cytoplasmic source had greater heterotic effect on ear length, ear head weight, grain yield /ear, grain yield /plant compared to other two sources. On the other hand, A1 source had highest heterotic effect on ear girth. A4 based hybrids had maximum heterosis for grain yield per plant and other panicle components, followed by A1 and A5 indicating a distinct advantage of these cytoplasms.