Abstract

Combining ability analysis was done using 63 F1 hybrids and their parents obtained from Line x Tester mating design for six quantitative traits including yield and quality traits. Both general and specific combining ability variances were highly significant for almost all the characters studied. The variance due to sca was more pronounced than variance due to gca for all the characters indicating the importance of non-additive genetic effects in the material studied which favours the production of hybrid cultivars. Based on gca effects among the lines, HKI 288-2, HKI 1126, HKI 536YN, HKI 1040-4 and HKI 323 contributed maximum favourable genes for yield and quality traits. Among the testers, HKI 163 and HKI 161 were desirable for both grain yield and QPM traits. Also HKI 170 (1+2) being good QPM inbred lines were found good pollinators mainly for lysine content. HKI 288-2 x HKI 5072-BT(1–2)-2 possessed significant sca effects for starch content and lysine content and cross HKI 488 x HKI 170 (1+2) and HKI 659-3 x HKI 193-2 were best for QPM characters. For quality traits, cross HKI 323 x HKI 170 (1+2) was promising for lysine content, tryptophan content, oil content and starch content. Best cross combinations could be advanced further for isolation of transgressive segregants and also to develop good inbred lines.