Gene action in hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the general combining ability effects of parents, specific combining ability effects of their hybrids. Female, IR-58025 recorded significantly high gca effects (4.88**) as well as maximum (29.12 gm) grain yield/plant indicating its good general combining ability for higher yield. Similarly among males IR-46 recorded maximum gca effects (7.98**) followed by IET-16310 (7.33**) and IR-34686-179-1-2-1 (5.13) indicating their good general combining ability for this trait. The crosses with high sca effects were in general combinations of parents with good x good or good x average gca effects. In many cases it was observed that atleast one good general combining parent was involved in heterotic hybrids having desirable sca effects. This suggested that information of the gca effects of parents should be considered along with sca effects and per se performance of hybrids for predicting the value of any hybrid.