Genetic analysis of seed yield and other attributes in lentil Lens culinaris Medik

Abstract

newline The present investigation entitled Genetic analysis of seed yield and other attributes in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) was undertaken to gather information on the nature and magnitude of gene action, combining ability and heterosis for important qualitative and quantitative traits, using triple test cross and line x tester analysis. The experimental material comprised of 15 inbred lines and three testers namely, Vipasa (L1), PL-406(L2) and F1 of Vipasa x PL-406(L3). The testers (Vipasa and PL-406) used in the present study were 73.6 % genetically diverse as observed by RAPDs and ISSRs markers. The analysis of variance revealed the presence of sufficient genetic variability in the material for exploitation through recombinant breeding. Additive type of gene action was preponderant for plant height, biological yield per plant, harvest index, protein content and tryptophan content, whereas non-additive type of gene action was preponderant for days to 50% flowering, fertile nodes per plant, pods per plant, seed yield per plant and 100-seed weight. The preponderance of additive gene action indicates that early generation selection by using pedigree method will be useful for the improvement of these traits. However, the preponderance of dominance variance indicates that selection should be deferred to later generations by using bulk or bulk-pedigree method of breeding. Combining ability studies revealed that the lines L-658, L-666, L-407, L-354 and PL-406 were good general combiners for seed yield and most of its component traits, whereas L-617, L-737, L-635, L-412 were good general combiners for seed yield and quality components and L-649 was good general combiner for earliness. Among specific cross combinations Vipasa x L-412, PL-406 x L-617, Vipasa x L-620, PL-406 x L-651, PL-406 x L-630, Vipasa x L-649, PL-406 x L-635 for seed yield and most of its component traits were outstanding having high sca effects. The cross combinations Vipasa x L-652, Vipasa x L-737 and PL-406 x L-407 showed high sca fo