Background: Urdbean (2n=2x=22), also known as blackgram is an important short duration legume crop belonging to family Fabaceae, widely cultivated in Asia. Urdbean occupies an important position among pulses owing to its high seed protein (25-26%), carbohydrates (60%), fat (15%), minerals, amino acids and vitamins. Owing to its low water requirement, it is also suitable for rainfed conditions. It adapts well to various cropping systems owing to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with soil bacteria, rapid growth and early maturity. Half diallel analysis was adopted in present study to gather information on gca (general combining abilities) and sca (specific combining abilities) of 6 diverse parents and simultaneously estimating various types of gene effects involved in the expression of seed yield and related attributes in urdbean. Methods: The F1’s were developed during 2017 in 9 x 9 half diallel fashion by Sharma et al. 2019 and these F1’s were evaluated. Significant crosses on the basis of gene action and combining ability were selected for further advancement. The experimental material comprised of the six parents and 15 F2’s of a 6 x 6 half diallel cross among six cultivars of urdbean (four are purelines viz., Palampur-93, HPBU-111, DU-1 and KU-553 and rest of the two are advanced and indigenous lines viz., Him Mash-1 and IC-281994). The F2’s along with the parental genotypes were grown in a Randomized block Design (RBD) with three replications at Experimental Farm of the Department of Crop Improvement, COA, CSK HPKV Palampur (H.P.) during Kharif, 2018. Results: The cross combination, Him Mash-1× HPBU-111, was identified the best for high seed yield on the basis of sca. The specific crosses, Palampur-93 × IC-281994, Palampur-93 × KU-553 were good specific combiners for most of the traits viz., plant height, branches per plant, pods per plant, biological yield per plant, seed yield per plant, harvest index, 100-seed weight and crude protein content.
Studies on Combining Ability and Gene Action for Seed Yield and Architectural Traits in Castor (Ricinus communis L.)