Stability and combining ability of selected parents and hybrids in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Abstract

Stability of pistillate lines is important for commercial seed production in hybrids of newlinecastor. Ten lines were assessed for their stability of pistillateness across four dates of sowing representing different temperature, photoperiod and relative humidity regimes at ZARS, Hiriyur during 2007-08. Eighty hybrids synthesized using four elite, stable pistillate lines (DPC-9, M-574, VP-1 and Geetha) selected from among the 10 lines and 20 testers using line × tester mating design along with their 24 parents and 3 checks DCH-177, GCH-4 and DCH-32 were evaluated in RCBD with 2 replications at ZARS, Hiriyur during Kharif and Rabi 2009 and at ARS, Arasikere during Kharif 2009, to assess combining ability of parents and their crosses to identify stable hybrids suitable for cultivation in different agro climatic situations. Analysis of variance indicated significant difference among the genotypes for all the characters studied. The expression of pistillateness was most stable in October and November season for seed parents. The pistillate lines DPC-9, Geetha and M-574 and the testes JI-263, MCI-13 and TMV-6 were good general combiners for most of the traits suggesting the need for using these lines in hybridization programme to develop superior hybrids. Most of the newlinehybrids which involved DPC-9 as the female parent exhibited significant heterosis over the standard check for most of the characters.