Assessment of Combining Ability and Gene Action in F1 Generation for Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L). Millsp.]

To estimate combining ability and nature of gene action, twenty four pigeonpea crosses were developed from ten parents in Line × Tester fashion during Kharif 2022-23 and were evaluated in Randomized Block Design with three replications during Kharif 2023-24. The estimates of σ2gca were lower than the corresponding σ2sca for all the twelve characters studied indicating the predominance of non-additive gene action. Among the parents, the line GJP 1915 was found to be good general combiner for seed yield per plant and its yield contributing characters like plant height, number of primary branches per plant and pod length. The tester GJP 1820 was also good general combiner for seed yield per plant and its component traits like plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight. The cross BDN 2013-41 × UPAS 120 had registered the highest sca effect for seed yield per plant. The sca effect in this cross combination was also accompanied by significant and desirable standard heterosis and high per se performance for days to maturity, reproductive phase duration, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod and significant and desirable heterobeltiosis for days to maturity, reproductive phase duration, number of primary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and 100-seed weight. The cross GJP 1915 × BLACKTUR had registered significant and positive sca effect for seed yield per plant which was also accompanied by highest per se performance for pod length. These cross combinations can be potentially utilized in future breeding programmes for exploitation of hybrid vigour.