Genetic Parameters and Combining Ability Effects of Parents for Seed Yield and other Quantitative Traits in Black Gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper]

• Main Authors: Supriyo CHAKRABORTY, Hironya Kumar BORAH, Birinchi Kumar BORAH, Dalim PATHAK, Bipin Kumar BARUAH, Hemen KALITA, Bhubaneswar BARMAN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca 2010-06-01
• Series: Notulae Scientia Biologicae
• Online Access: http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro/index.php/nsb/article/view/3696

Line x tester analysis was carried out in black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper], an edible legume, to estimate the gca (general combining ability) effects of parents (3 lines and 3 testers) and the SCA (specific combining ability) effects of 9 crosses for seed yield and other eleven quantitative traits. Though additive and nonadditive gene actions governed the expression of quantitative traits, the magnitude of nonadditive gene action was higher than that of additive gene action for each quantitative trait. Two parents viz. UG157 and DPU915 were good general combiners. Two crosses namely PDB 88-31/DPU 915 and PLU 277/KAU7 had high per se performance along with positive significant SCA effect for seed yield/plant. The degree of dominance revealed overdominance for all the traits except clusters/plant with partial dominance. The predictability ratio also revealed the predominant role of nonadditive gene action in the genetic control of quantitative traits. Narrow sense heritability was also low for each trait. Recurrent selection or biparental mating followed by selection which can exploit both additive and nonadditive gene actions would be of interest for yield improvement in black gram. Due to presence of high magnitude of nonadditive gene action, heterosis breeding could also be attempted to develop low cost hybrid variety using genetic male sterility system in black gram.