Diallel Set Research Articles

Estimation of heterosis for yield and yield contributing traits in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.

Twenty eight F1 hybrids developed from a diallel set involving eight parents (excluding reciprocals) in bottle gourd were evaluated at Horticulture complex, Department of Horticulture JNKVV. Jabalpur (MP). The study was aimed to estimate heterosis for yield and yield contributing traits in bottle gourd. Analysis of variance revealed the presence of considerable variability among parents and hybrids for all the characters under study. Heterosis for fruit yield per vine ranged from -1.27 to 17.33 % over mid parent and 0.61 to -22.74% over better parent. For number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight was ranged from 0.25 to -25.30% and 1.37 to 46.67% over mid parent and -0.17 to -33.44% and 0.00 to 41.94% over better parent, respectively. Regarding fruit length the heterosis ranged from 0.64 to 16.50 over mid parent while heterosis over better parent ranged from -0.51 to -22.85. Heterosis for days to first fruit harvest ranged from 0.00 to -12.02 and 0.00 to -14.51 over mid parent and better parent, respectively. It was important to note that only two F1 hybrids viz. Arka Bahar x Kashi Ganga and Arka Bahar x Pusa Naveen exhibited higher positive and significant values over better parent. While, crosses Arka Bahar x Narendra Dharidar, Kashi Ganga x Narendra Dharidar, Pusa Santushti x PSPL and Arka Bahar x Samrat showed significant negative heterosis over better parent for earliness.

Evaluation of the Performance of Parental Lines and Their F1 Hybrids for Yield and Attributing Traits in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The present investigation was carried out to obtain information based on per se performances of parents and their combinations for genetic improvement in tomatoes. Ten promising genotypes were crossed in a dial manner (excluding reciprocals). Half diallel set of 45 F1’s in tomato was evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design (RBD) with three replications for eighteen yield and yield attributing traits during Rabi 2020-21 (Y1) and 2021-22 (Y2) at the Main Experimental Station (MES), Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) India. The study evidently showed highly significant differences being observed for most of the traits under study. Based on per se performance, parent P3 (3.27 kg) exhibited the highest yield per plant followed by P6 (3.20 kg). The per se performance of crosses i.e. P3XP4 (3.33kg), followed by P2 x P9 (2.17 kg) produced significantly higher yield per plant than the general mean and P2 X P3 (24.97), followed by P1 X P2 (26.18) was found to be early as observed from character of days to 50% flowering. These hybrids may be exploited as a new variety after selection and subjected to multi-locational trials for their release for cultivation on a commercial scale.

Genetical Contributions and Combining Ability Analysis in Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

The present study was undertaken to estimate the general and specific combining ability in 10 x 10 diallel set of crosses (excluding reciprocals) in bitter gourd to get 45 hybrids using 10 parents (DVBTG-1, VRBT-94, VRBT-39, VRBT-41, VRBT-49, VRBT-50, VRBT-103, VRBT-63, VRBT-32 and VRBT-6). These 45 F1 along with 10 parents were evaluated in Randomized Block Design with three replications considering 10 characters (days to first male flower anthesis, days to first female flower anthesis, days to first harvest, number of branches/plant, plant height, fruit length, fruit diameter, number of fruits/plant, fruit weight and fruit yield/plant) in bitter gourd. Analysis of variance due to treatment was highly significant for all the traits. The combining ability analysis revealed highly significant differences among the treatments for all the parameters studied. The variances due to sca were higher than the gca for all the characters indicating the predominance of non-additive gene effects. Out of 10 parents’ four parents DVBTG-1, VRBT-49, VRBT-103 and VRBT-32 exhibited significant and negative g.c.a effects for early female flowering and days to first harvest. Similarly, positive and significant g.c.a effects were shown by DVBTG-1, VRBT-50, VRBT-49, VRBT-103 and VRBT-6 for number of fruits/plant. DVBTG-1 and VRBT-49 showed negative gca effects for the characters except days to 1st harvesting. How VRBT-49 was identified as one of the best general combiners. The cross combinations VRBT-94 x VRBT-32, DVBTG-1 x VRBT-50, VRBT-49 x VRBT-103, VRBT-49 x VRBT-32, VRBT-94 x VRBT-32 and VRBT-41 x VRBT-103 exhibited positive and significant s.c.a effects for first female flower anthesis and days to first harvest. The finding of experiments confirmed the potentiality of DVBTG-1 x VRBT-6, VRBT-94 x VRBT-103, VRBT-41 x VRBT-6, VRBT-94 x VRBT-49, VRBT-39 x VRBT-49 and VRBT-94 x VRBT-39 combination based hybrids for yield/plant. The results of this study also suggest that for improvement of a desirable character, the selected parental line should be of high gca value and their F1s should express high specific combining ability. Significant estimates of additive component (d) along with significance of additive x additive (i) gene interaction-with positive sign pod yield per plant which indicated the presence of increase alleles and associated pair of genes.

Genetic Analysis of Heterosis of F1 Seed Yield and Quality Attributes in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.)

A diallel set of 10 parents and their 45 F1 hybrids developed through diallel mating design (excluding reciprocals) were analysed to estimate the magnitude of heterosis for seed yield and its component in fenugreek. The present study was conducted at Main Experimental Station, Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj), Ayodhya (UP), India, during Rabi, 2020-21 (Y1) and 2021–22 (Y2). Appreciable heterosis were found over better parent and standard variety for all the traits under study in desirable direction. For early maturity traits i.e., days to 50% flowering, days to maturity negative heterosis is desirable, for these traits cross combinations P1× P2, P2×P5, P1×P10 and P5×P9 exhibited highest significant heterosis over better parent and standard variety. Seed yield per plant being a compound trait and is a multiplicative product of several basic component characters of yield. The top three hybrids based on seed yield per plant, best hybrids were P5 × P9, P7 × P10 and P3 × P9.

Evaluation of the Performance of Parental Lines and their F1 Hybrids for Yield and Attributing Traits in Vegetable Pea [Pisum sativum (L.) var. hortense

The present investigation was carried out to obtain information based on per se performances of parents and their combinations for genetic improvement in vegetable pea. Ten promising genotypes were crossed in a diallel manner (excluding reciprocals). Half diallel set of 45 F1’s in vegetable pea was evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design (RBD) with three replications for eighteen yield and yield attributing traits during Rabi 2020-21 (Y1) and 2021-22 (Y2) at the Main Experimental Station (MES), Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) India. The study evident that highly significant differences were observed for most of the traits under study. Based on per se performance, parent P10 (60.84 g) exhibited the highest green pod yield per plant followed by P5 (55.80 g). The per se performance of crosses i.e. P7 x P10 (81.88 g) followed by P6 x P10 (81.87 g), P5 x P10 (79.66 g) and P5 x P7 (78.89 g) produced significantly higher green pod yield per plant than the general mean. These hybrids may be exploited as a new variety after selection and subjected to multi-locational trials for their release as cultivation on a commercial scale.

Gene Action Analysis for Yield and Its Component Traits in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea (L) Czern and coss)

Abstract: A 5X5 half Diallel set was planned to study the combing ability and gene action for yield and its component traits in Indian Mustard. Based upon findings of the experiment, two character like No. of seeds per siliqua and Plant height shows additive variance so Selection will be effective. All the characters study in the present experiment except the No. of Branches showed significant sca variance indicating the presence of non-additive gene action and due to this selection will not be effective to improve the traits. It further gives us an idea to go for exploitation of Heterosis in these traits

Evaluation of the Performance of Parental Line and their F1 Hybrids for Yield and Quality Traits in Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Brinjal or eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the most important cultivated solanaceous vegetable, mainly grown for its edible fruits. The present investigation was carried out in order to obtained per se performance of parents and their cross combinations for genetic improvement in brinjal. Ten parents were crossed in diallel fashion excluding reciprocal. Half diallel set of crosses and their all possible 45 F1’s (excluding reciprocals) in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design (RBD) with three replications for nineteen yield and yield contributing traits during Kharif 2020-21 (Y1) and 2021-22 (Y2) at the Main Experiment Station (MES) of Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) India. The study revealed that highly significant differences were observed for most of the traits under study. Based on the per se performance, the parentP9 (2.61 kg) registered highest fruit yield per plant followed by P7 (2.49 kg) in both the year and pooled. The per se performance of crosses viz., P2 x P9 (3.11 kg), P4 x P6(2.66 kg), P1 x P8(2.55 kg)and P6 x P7(2.42 kg) were produced significantly highest fruit yield per plant than the general mean. These hybrids may be subjected to multi-locational and multi-seasonal trials for their release for commercial cultivation. The findings with respect to salinity tolerance must be correlated to develop the salt tolerant cultivars.

Genetic Analysis of Water Stress Tolerance Attributes in F1 Maize Diallel Crosses

A half diallel set of crosses involving 10 inbred lines of maize along with commercial hybrid ARCGH 128 were evaluated at two different irrigation treatment during two season 2019 and 2020 using RCBD design with three replications at two locations (Minia and Assuit governorates), to determine combining ability and gene action for grain yield and its components. the most superior crosses for the economic traits were detected in L1 X L2 for leaf proline content, ear weight and number of rows/ear, L1 X L8 for number of ear /plot and number of rows/ear, L4 X L9 for Days to tasseling and Days to silking, L3 X L8 for Leaf angle, leaf rolling, number of kernels/ear, number of rows/ear and number of kernels/row and L3 X L10 for days to tasseling, days to silking,leaf rolling, relative water content (RWC %), kernel fresh weight, number of rows/ear and yield. Highly significant and larger in magnitude values of dominance (H1 and H2) components were found to be at the significant level at (5%) for all studied characters which confirmed their importance in the expression of these characters. However (D) dominance component was reached to the significant level only for the normal irrigation treatment for the leaf angel at both locations, all irrigation treatment for leaf proline content at both locations, normal irrigation treatment for number of kernel/row at Assuit location and all irrigation treatment for 100 kernel weight and number of ear/plot at both locations. The (F) component was significant and positive for all irrigation treatment for leaf proline content at both location, normal irrigation treatment for number of kernel/row at Assuit location, all irrigation treatments for 100 kernel weight at both location, stress irrigation treatment for number of ear/plot at Minia location. Significant differences of environmental variance (E) components were recorded for all irrigation treatment for leaf rolling at Assuit location, all irrigation treatment for ear weight at Minia location and all irrigation treatment for number of rows/ear and number of ear/plot at both locations. Dominance component of variance (H1 and H2) were significant and/or highly significant for all studied traits and (H1) was greater than (H2) in F1 indicating that positive and negative alleles at loci of these trait were not in proportional equal for parents. The estimator (h2) were refers to the dominance effect overall heterozygous loci was significant for all studied traits except days to tasseling for normal irrigation treatment at both locations, stress irrigation treatment for leaf angel at Minia location, all irrigation treatment for leaf rolling at both locations, normal irrigation treatment for ear weight/kg/plot at both locations and for stress irrigation treatment for number of rows/ear at Minia location. Average degree of dominance (H1/D) 0.5 was more than unity for all traits, these finding indicated the involved of an over dominance expression for all characters. However the over dominance observed in such character may not be an index of true over dominance could be based due to linkage epistasis or both together. Since the ratio of dominance (KD) recessive (KR) alleles was more than one for all the studied characters, these indicates a preponderance of dominant gene in the parents for the characters. The value of K (h2/H2, which stands for the number of groups of genes that exhibit dominance for each character) was <1 for all the studied characters for normal irrigation treatment at Assuit location and all irrigation treatment at Minia location and all irrigation treatment at Minia location for number of rows/ear and 100 kernel weight/gm. This suggested that just one group of genes showed dominance governed all of them while this parameter could be underestimated, when the dominance effects of all genes was not concerned with equivalent, size and distribution, where the distribution of genes was correlated, or complementary gene interactions occur. Heritability values in bored sense (h2b) were relatively low for all characters. However, heritability in narrow sense (h2n) was high scored values more 50% except leaf rolling for stress irrigation treatment at Minia location (0.48%) these results confirmed that the environmental effects constitute a major portion of the total phenotypic variation in these characters.

Evaluation of Genetic Resources in a Potato Breeding Program for Chip Quality

The objective of this study was to assess the ability of experimental advanced breeding clones as parental genotypes to transmit agronomic and quality traits to their progenies in breeding programs. A half diallel set of crosses (excluding reciprocals) with six parents was assayed in field trials for three years; four of the parents were Solanumtuberosum subsp. tuberosum cultivars, and two of them were advanced breeding clones that included genes from S. tuberosum subsp. andigenum with immunity to PVY virus and good agronomic performance. However, no information was available about the behavior of these clones as parental materials for quality traits, such as potato chip quality. The diallel mating design allowed us to discover their ability to transmit agronomic and quality traits to their offspring. Significant effects on general combining ability and specific combining ability were found for plant maturity, only general combining ability effects for specific gravity were found, and interactions of both general combining ability and specific combining ability with the environment for the chip color trait were found. However, no genetic effects were detected for yield. Where general combining ability significant effects were found, additive genetic effects are predominant; thus, so for those traits, it would be possible to use these genotypes as parents to obtain improved progenies. Such abilities were not found in the advanced breeding clones.

Potential use of random and linked SSR markers in establishing the true heterotic pattern in maize (

Context Establishment of true heterotic pattern in maize germplasm can increase the efficiency of hybrid breeding. Heterosis is dependent on the genetic diversity of parents and the extent of dominance at different loci. Estimation of genetic diversity through use of molecular markers is routine practice in maize breeding. Aims The present study was designed to test whether simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers linked to yield-contributing traits are more reliable for heterotic grouping than random SSRs. Methods Diallel crosses developed among 19 inbred lines were evaluated at multi-locations. The genotypes were also grouped using polymorphic random (50) and linked (47) SSRs. Key results The crosses generated with lines belonging to different heterotic groups of linked SSR markers did not reveal any superiority over the crosses of the diallel set. By contrast, mean performance of inter-heterotic group crosses generated on the basis of random markers was superior to that of intra-heterotic crosses. Specific combining ability effects did not reveal any significant association with genetic distance of random or linked markers. Conclusions The lack of improved efficiency of linked markers over random markers can be attributed to factors including the quantitative nature of the trait, genotype × environment interactions, genetic background of germplasm in which the markers are expressed, and multiple alleles. Implications Markers linked to yield-contributing traits are no more reliable for heterotic grouping than random markers.

Combining Ability for Growth, Yield and Related Traits In Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) Under Subtropical Conditions of Garhwal Himalayas

To assess the combining ability for quantitative and qualitative traits in cucumber a full diallel set of 7 parents and their 42 F1’s was evaluated at Horticultural Research Centre, Department of Horticulture, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttarakhand, India during 2015 and 2016. The mean sum of squares due to general combining ability (GCA) was of significant differences at 1 % level for almost all the characters. The variance due to specific combining ability (SCA) was found highly significant at 1 % level for almost all the characters. Results from general combining ability studies revealed that the parent, New Manipur-1 showed significant GCA effect in desired direction for maximum characters viz., length of vine, days to first fruit harvest and number of fruits per vine. The cross combinations, Seven Star x New Manipur-1 for length of vine, Swarna Purna x Seven Star for days to first fruit harvest; K-90 x Seven Star for number of fruits per vine and the cross PB-Naveen x Swarna Purna for total fruit yield per vine showed significant SCA effect in desired direction and found to be superior specific cross combinations. Bangladesh J. Bot. 50(4): 1003-1010, 2021 (December)

Heterosis and Per se performance studies in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

The present study comprised of a full diallel set of eight diverse parental lines and their 56 F1s including reciprocals. The data were recorded for ten quantitative traits. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences due to genotypes for all the characters. Mean performance of parents revealed a significant difference for all the traits under study excluding days to 50 per cent flowering and seed yield. The parent TBS-3 was top in seed yield per plant followed by TBS-10 and TBS-105. Length of the capsule was found highest in the parent TBS-10. Parental line V-29 recorded the maximum number of seeds per capsule while 1000 seed weight and oil content were recorded as the highest in TBS-105. Regarding the mean performance of hybrids exhibited significant difference for all the traits under study. Hybrid TBS-105 x R-09 was the top yielder followed by TBS-105 x V-29 and TBS-7 x V-29. Hybrid TBS-12 x TBS-105 had displayed a maximum 1000-seed weight whereas, the highest oil content was recorded in hybrid TBS-105 x V-29. Among the 56 F1s TBS-105 x R-09, TBS-105 x V-29 and TBS-7 x V-29 were top rankings crosses manifested highly significant and desirable heterosis for seed yield and either of the component traits viz., plant height, the number of branches, the number of capsules, capsule length and the number of seeds per capsule over mid, a better parent and standard check. Key words: Mid parent heterosis, heterobeltiosis, standard heterosis, reciprocals, sesame

Study of genetic variability in relation to yield and yield components in forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

The present investigation was carried out the genetic analysis of breeding material through components of variance, nature and magnitude of gene effects, genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficients, general and specific combining ability effects and heterosis among yield and it components in parents and F1’s hybrids. Ten diverse parents i.e., UP Chari-1, HC-308, UP Chari-2, HC-171, Pant Chari-8, CSV-17, Pant Chari-6, CSV-84, Pant Chari-5 and Rajasthan Chari-1, germplasm selected from SVPUA&T, Meerut, U.P. Ten parents diallel set excluding reciprocals was made during the season of kharif 2018 by raising the crop at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut. All the 45 crosses and their ten parents were grown during kharif season 2019. All the 45 F1’s hybrids along with ten parents were sown in randomized block design with three replications. Observations were recorded on days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf breadth, leaf length, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf area, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids and green fodder yield. Analysis of variance for parents and crosses showed highly differed significantly for all the characters. Parents vs crosses exhibited highly significant for the attributes namely, days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf breadth, leaf length, leaf area and green fodder yield, which indicated that wide genotypic differences among the parental lines and F1’s hybrids. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for the traits viz., plant height, and leaves per plant, leaf area, stem girth, leaf stem ratio and green fodder yield, suggesting that the genes governing these characters may have additive effect.

Diallel Analysis of Seed Yield, its Components and Oil Content in peanut

A half diallel set including diverse five parental peanut genotypes was evaluated at Ismailia Agricultural Research Station, ARC,Ismailia Governorate,Egypt using randomized complete block design with three replications to estimate mean performance,combining ability,heterosis and nature of gene action.Highly significant genotypes and its components of parents,crosses and parents vs.crosses mean squares were detected for all studied traits.Highly significance of general and specific combining ability was observed for all studied traits.Additive gene action governed in plant height, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/plant,100-pod weight and shelling %. Ismalia 2,Line 360 and Giza 6 seemed to be the best combiners for pod yield /feddan and most of its components.The best cross combinations were detected in F1 crosses, P2 ×P3 for seed weight /plant and P3 × P5 and P4 × P5 for pod yield / feddan.Significant or highly significant values and high values of the dominance component (H1) were also observed for the most studied traits. P5 carried the most dominant genes responsible for the expression of seed weight/plant and pod yield / feddan, while, P4 for seed weight / plant and P1 and P2 for pod yield / feddan possessed high concentration of recessive genes. It could be concluded that, Ismalia2, Line 360 and Giza6 could be used as donors parents to improve yield and its components of peanut in the breeding program,also, the crosses P2 ×P3 , P3 × P5 and P4 × P5 with high SCA may be exploited for the development of hybrids as they had high per se performance.

Study of combining ability for yield contributing traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

The combining ability analysis of 8×8 half diallel set of crosses in brinjal was undertaken for fruit yield and its attributing characters. Eight parents, twenty eight hybrids and two standard checks were evaluated during late kharif/rabi 2018-19 for the present study in randomized block design for two replications. The analysis of variance revealed presence of considerable variability among genotypes for all the characters under study. Combining ability analysis revealed important of both additive and non additive variances in expression of various traits. Among the parental genotypes, parent SBJH-631 and Sep-034 were good general combiners for fruit length, fruit cluster per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield, number of leaves per plant, shoot borer infestation and fruit borer infestation. Followed by Utkal Keshari and IBH-2 for days to 50% flowering, fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit cluster per plant, number of fruits per cluster and fruit borer infestation. In respect to estimates of specific combining ability effects, cross IBH-2 x SBJH-631 was good for number of branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, number of fruits per cluster and fruit yield and SBJH-631 x Sep-034 was shown best specific combining ability for number of leaves per plant, number of flowers per plant, number of fruits per plant, total yield and fruit borer infestation characters. The additive gene components were observed to be predominant for all characters except number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant and shoot borer infestation.

Heterosis studies using Diallel analysis in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present study was carried out for the estimation of heterosis and heterobeltosis in bread wheat during the year 2017-18. A diallel set of 9 x 9 was prepared by crossing nine genotypes in all possible combinations excluding reciprocals. Parents and their F1 generations were planted in RBD (randomized block design) with three replications. The observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants in parents and F1s for thirteen traits. Analysis of variances showed that significant variation is present among all the genotypes for all studied traits. The mean sums of squares due to parents as well as crosses were found highly significant for all thirteen traits, indicating the existence of substantial variation for all the traits among the genotypes as well as crosses. No any cross combination was found that exhibit significant heterosis for all the traits in the present investigation. Cross combinations namely, HD3059 × Raj3765, HD2967 ×WH1184, HD2967 × Raj3765, HD3059 × WH1184 and HD3059 × WH283 were found most promising for the grain yield per plant by showing high per se performance and heterosis over better parent. These crosses could be extensively used for developing superior segregates and better pure lines for different breeding programmes.

Genetic components and Vr–Wr graphical analysis using a diallel set of crosses involved biotic stress tolerance parents in rice

To determine the genetic components of various agro-morphological and grain quality traits in rice, nine genotypes were crossed in diallel mating design. Vr–Wr graphical analysis and average degree of dominance revealed that presence of overdominance for all the studied traits, suggest that selection may be effective in a later generation. Estimates of genetic components such as D, H1 and H2 on traits under study were controlled by both additive and non-additive gene action. Narrow sense heritability was low for all the traits due to preponderance of non-additive gene action. These findings could help rice breeders to improve grain yield and contributing traits along with grain quality by appropriate selection.

Artificial Selection in Domestication and Breeding Prevents Speciation in Rice

Speciation has long been regarded as an irreversible process once the reproductive barriers had been established. However, unlike in natural populations, artificial selection might either accelerate or prevent speciation processes in domesticated species. Asian cultivated rice is a target crop for both domestication and artificial breeding; it contains two subspecies of indica and japonica, which usually produce sterile inter-subspecific hybrids due to reproductive barriers. In this study, we constructed the evolutionary trajectory of a reproductive isolation system S5, which regulates fertility in indica–japonica hybrids via three adjacent genes, based on the data of 606 accessions including two cultivated and 11 wild rice species. Although hybrid sterility haplotypes at S5 lead to establishment of a killer-protector reproductive barrier, origin of wide-compatibility haplotypes by complex hybridization and recombination provides an opposing force to reproductive isolation and thus prevents speciation during domestication. Analysis in a diallel set of 209 crosses involving 21 parents showed that the wide-compatibility genotypes largely rescued fertility of indica–japonica hybrids, indicating that the wide-compatibility gene would enable gene flow to maintain species coherence. This counteracting system indicates that combined effects of natural evolution and artificial selection may result in reversible processes of speciation in rice, which may also have implications for genetic improvement of rice.

Inheritance of some Seed Quality and Assessment of Soluble Protein Profiles in Five Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Cultivars

A half diallel set of five- parents of pea (Pisum sativum L.) was used to study the inheritance of four seed quality traits in addition to the differences in soluble protein patterns. The studied traits included 100 green seed weight, sugar percentage, starch percentage and protein content. The variances of SCA were higher in magnitude than those of GCA for total sugar and starch contents which indicated that non-additive effects were higher than the additive effects for these characters. Both additive and non-additive effects were important in controlling protein content. Meanwhile, the variance of GCA exceeded SCA by 50 folds in 100 green seed weight indicated the predominance of additive effects in the inheritance of such trait than non-additive effects.

Heterosis Studies in Bottle Gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol) Standl

Forty five F1 hybrids developed from a diallel set involving ten parents (excluding reciprocals) in bottle gourd were evaluated in randomized block design with two replications during kharif 2016 at the Main Vegetable Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. This study was aimed to study the extent of heterosis over better parent and standard check NDBGH 4. Analysis of variance indicated presence of considerable variability among genotypes for all the characters under study. The cross combinations ABGS 11-23 x DBG 5, ABG 1 x Arka Bahar and DBG 6 x DBG 5 showed highly positive significant heterosis over standard check for fruit yield per plant. While, crosses ABGS 11-22 x Punjab Komal and DBG 6 x Punjab Komal showed significant negative heterosis over standard check for earliness.