Heterosis and combining ability studies for yield and yield components in blackgram (Vigna Mungo L. Hepper) under different environmental conditions of Prayagraj region, India

Abstract

Twenty one crosses of blackgram were produced in line x tester fashion, the F1 crosses along with the parents were grown during kharif (timely sown, late sown) and zaid (timely sown, late sown) to assess heterosis and combining ability for yield and yield components over different environments. The pooled analysis of variance revealed significant variability for crosses, environments, environment x crosses and environments x line x tester effect for all characters. Two lines UTTARA and KU 96-3 were identified as good general combiners for seed yield which can serve as parental lines in crop improvement programme. Among 21 crosses, three crosses viz., MASH 338 × PU 31, UH 82-23 × M 1-1 and UTTARA × PU 31 exhibited positive significant relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis, as well as significant specific combining ability for seed yield. Hence, these crosses can be utilized for seed yield improvement through recurrent selection.