Genetic analysis of yield and its biometric traits in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Abstract

The genetics of seed yield and its components was studied in castor (Ricinus communis L.) utilizing three crosses viz., AKC-1 x RG1636 (Cross - I); Aruna x RG1636 (Cross-II) and AKD-1 x RG1636 (Cross-III) through generation mean analysis. The additive-dominance model was found to be adequate for days to maturity of primary spikes in cross II (Aruna x RG1636) indicating the absence on non- allelic interactions. Additive (d) gene actions along with epistatic gene interactions were found to be significant for effective length of secondary spikes, oil content in the cross I (AKC-1 x RG1636); total number of capsules, 100 seed weight in the cross III (AKD-1 x RG1636), while rest of the characters were found to be governed by non additive gene actions. The classification of gene actions showed the importance of duplicate type of gene action for most of the characters in all the three crosses. Breeding procedures involving either multiple crosses or biparental crosses may be resorted to get transgressive segregants.