Gene Action and Combining Ability of Seed Yield and its Attributing Characters in Castor (Ricinus communis L.) Patel D. K., Patel Ankit, Patel C. J., Patel J. R.* Castor-Mustard Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar-385 506, Gujarat, India *Email: ankitp.patel224@gmail.com
Online published on 2 January, 2017. Abstract The estimatesof the components of genetic variation were worked out by Kempthorne method from a line x tester analysis in castor for ten plant type related traits. The analysis for combining ability revealed significant mean sum of squares for all the characters except seed yield (g/plant) and oil content (%) of general combining ability (GCA), while for specific combining ability (SCA) significant mean sum of squares were observed for 100 seed weight (g), length of primary spike (cm), number of node up to primary spike and number ofcapsules per plant. This indicated the presence of both additive and non-additive gene actions. The ratio of gca and sca variance revealed that predominance of non-additive gene action for all the traits. Among the parental genotypes, line SKP 122 was goodgeneral combiner for most of the characters including seed yield (g/plant), while the line SKP 42 was also a good general combiner for all the characters except seed yield and effective branches per plant. The cross combination viz., JI 96 x SKI 350 and SKP 121 x SH 41 were good specific combiners for seed yield (g/plant). The hybrid, SKP 42 x SKI 342 had good specific combining ability for days to maturity can be used for early maturity in castor. In general for yield and other yield attributing traits the promising hybrids with high SCA effect were SKP 42 x SKI 350, SKP 84 x SKI 342, SKP121 x SH 41, JP 96 x SKI 342 and JP 96 x SKI 350. These cross combinations could be utilized for further use in breeding programme for improvement in yield and other desirable characters of castor. Top Keywords Line x Tester, Combining ability, Gene action and Castor. Top |