Combining ability analysis for yield and yield contributing traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Combining ability analysis was conducted in Line × Tester mating design using 10 parents and 21 hybrids for the yield and yield contributing traits. The ratio of additive genetic variance to dominance genetic variance was nearing unity which showed the prevalence of non additive gene action for the traits viz., days to 50 % flowering, plant height, panicle length, number of productive tillers per plant, number of filled grains per panicle, hundred grain weight and single plant yield. Hence, selection for these characters may be postponed to later generation for improvement. Among the lines, CO 51, Improved White Ponni and Improved Samba Mahsuri expressed significant per se and gca effects for grain yield traits. In testers, ADT 41 was adjudged as the excellent general combiner for yield related traits. Considering per se performance and sca effects, the hybrids CO 51/Jeeragasamba, CO 51/ADT 41 and ADT 37/VGD 1 were the superior combiners for single plant yield, number of productive tillers per plant and hundred grain weight. These crosses deserve the due attention for further utilization in subsequent breeding programmes.

Keywords

• Combining ability
• yield
• dominance and Line × Tester mating design