Analysis of combining ability and studies of gene action for yield and yield contributing traits in a half diallel cross of capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt.)

Abstract

Six parental genotypes and their fifteen F1 hybrids were used in the present study in a half diallel cross system (without reciprocals) to estimate the combining ability for yield and yield contributing traits in capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt.). The experiment was carried out at Vegetable Research and Demonstration Block of Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The analysis of variance for combining ability indicated that GCA and SCA mean squares were highly significant for all the characters under study which suggest that these parents performed differently in different combinations indicating interallelic interactions. Maximum yield contributing traits studied exhibited greater GCA variance than SCA varience, suggesting that these traits are controlled by additive gene action except yield per plant which are found to be under the control of non-additive gene action. Among the parents California Wonder emerged as good general combiner for yield per plant (0.16 kg), fruit diameter (0.71 kg) and fruit pericarp thickness (0.29 kg). The genotype Arka Mohini exhibited highly significant for average fruit weight (12.45 g), Solan Bharpur for number of fruits per plant (3.79) and EC802552 for fruit length (1.94 cm). The highest specific combining ability effect in fruit yield was observed in the cross California Wonder × LC-10 (0.41kg). Whereas, different cross combinations showed the good specific combining ability effects in different yield contributing traits in desirable direction. Thus the result concluded that the commercialization of superior capsicum hybrid and selection of suitable parents according to its combining ability can be utilized in further crop improvement programme.