Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding (The)
Year : 1981, Volume : 41, Issue : 1
First page : ( 150) Last page : ( 153)
Print ISSN : 0019-5200. Online ISSN : 0975-6906.

Gene action and heterosis in bengal gram

Singh S. P., Ramanujam S.

Genetics Division, I.A.R.I., New Delhi 110 012, India

Summary

The nature of gene action and heterosis were analysed for nine quantitative characters in four crosses of bengal gram. In general, both additive and non additive gene action were found to be important for all the characters. The contribution of epistatic interactions was substantial but may have been assessed with low precision particularly for yield components. Specific crosses exhibited significant fixable effects for days to flowering and maturity, pods/plant and seed/pod indicating that selection in segregating generations would be effective for these characters.

Heterosis for yield was not substantial over the best parent. The low heterosis might be due to internal cancellation of gene effects. Possibility of heterosis breeding is ruled out because of the nature of flower and the presence of marginal heterosis.

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