Combining Ability Studies in Lentil for Yield and Its Related Attributes

To study the inheritance of some important yield contributing characters and yield through combining ability analysis, the eight parents of lentil genotypes were selected and crossed in diallel without reciprocals. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed highly significant differences among crosses for all the characters studied. The σ2gca/σ2sca ratio was shown to be less than unity for most of the characters indicating the predominant role of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of these characters. However, for the characters days to first flowering and days to 50% flowering, the ratio was found to be more equal to unity indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene action in the expression of these characters. In case of GCA effects, DKL 50, L4147 and IPL 406 were identified as the most promising parents. On the basis of SCA effects, RLG 161 × IPL 406 was the most promising cross combinations for improvement of seed yield and no. of pods/plant. This heterotic cross having highly significant SCA effects for seed yield involved both the parents either as good general combiners or at least one good general combiner for seed yield. The manifestation of heterosis for seed yield was evidenced by superiority of hybrids ranging from 1.02 to 91.18% in the 24 crosses over better parent and from 1.02 to 46.94% in 21 crosses over standard check variety (PL 4). Out of 28 cross combinations, 20 crosses exhibited significant heterosis over their better parent as well as standard check. Overall on the basis of results of mean performance, including GCA and SCA effects and standard heterosis, PL 166 × DKL 50 and L 4147 × PL 4 were identified as the most promising cross combinations for improvement of seed yield in lentil.