Combining ability analysis for yield and its component traits in Blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)

A diallele analaysis of 8 x 8 was studied in black gram (Vigna mungo) with a view to understand the combining ability, nature of gene action and potential for the exploitation of heterosis using nine quantitative characters viz., days to first flower, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, hundred seed weight and seed yield per plant in 28 hybrids and their eight parents. The parent ADT 3 recorded relatively high per se performance for seed yield, hundred seed weight, number of clusters per plant, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant and number of branches per plant with early flowering and short stature. Among the hybrids, ADT 3/99V48, ADT 3/LBG 645 and 2KU 53/LBG 645 were found to have high mean performance for almost all the yield component characters besides seed yield. The gca effect of the genotypes ADT 3, LBG 645 and 2 KU 53 was high and significant for the traits seed yield per plant besides number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod. The SCA variance was greater than GCA variance for all the traits studied thus indicating the predominance of non-additive gene action. Among the hybrids, ADT 3/99V48 recorded the maximum significant sca effect indicating their suitability for heterosis breeding. The hybrids ADT 3/ LBG 645 and 2 KU 53/ LBG 645 recorded non significant sca effects for almost all the traits studied including seed yield per plant. Hence, these two crosses were adjudged as superior for recombination breeding based on sca effects.