Diallel Analysis for Estimation of Combining Ability for Seed Yield and It’s Component Traits in Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

The present investigation consisted of eight parents of linseed which were crossed as per diallel analysis [1] (Model 1 and Method 2) in Rabi 2010-11 to generate 28 crosses (excluding reciprocals). These 28 crosses were evaluated along with eight parents and three checks viz: T-397, Neelum and Allahabad Local in RBD having three replications during 2011-12 at the Field Experimentation Centre of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad. The data were recorded on ten characters to study the combining ability. The significant mean sum of squares for all the ten characters indicated the presence of a substantial amount of variability. Per se performance for seed yield and its components depicted that cross M-42 (169) × POLF-19 (1765) was found to be best. Analysis of variance for combining ability showed significant differences for all the characters. The parents FRW-6 (973) and POLF-19 (1765) were good general combiner for seedyield and most of the traits. Highest positive SCA effect for seed yield per plant was depicted by the cross PbD2-42 (2789) × GS-129 (1018).