GENE ACTION AND COMBINING ABILITY FOR FODDER YIELD AND
ITS CONTRIBUTING TRAITS IN FODDER COWPEA [VIGNA UNGUICULATA (L.) WALP.]
B. G. SANJEEV, M. R. KRISHNAPPA, B. G. SHEKARA1 AND P. RUDRASWAMY
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding
University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK,
Bangalore-560 065 (Karnataka), India
*(e-mail : krishnappa_93@yahoo.co.in)
(Received : 14 November 2014; Accepted : 21 February 2014)
SUMMARY
Thirty-two hybrids developed following line x tester mating design involving eight lines (high yielding) and four testers (low yielding) along with parents were analysed for combining ability. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the 10 traits, thereby justifying the selection of parents for the study. The mean sum of squares due to hybrids was highly significant, indicating the diverse performance of different cross combinations. Among the lines CPD-31, MFC-09-09 and EC-458505, and NBC-2, IC-1071 and EC-170578-1-1 among the testers were identified as good general combiners. Out of 32 hybrids, CPD-31 x NBC-2 was identified as good specific combination followed by CPD-31 x EC-170578-1-1. The sca variance was predominant for all characters indicating presence of non-additive gene action.
Key words: Combining ability, fodder yield, line x tester, Vigna unguiculata, germplasm