COMBINING ABILITY ANALYSIS FOR YIELD CHARACTERISTICS IN SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM SP. COMPLEX)

Abstract

General and specific combining ability variances and their effects were studied for eight characters in line x tester mating design in sugarcane. Study indicated the predominance of additive gene action for cane height, cane hardness and brix. Nonadditive gene action was preponderant for number of millable canes per stool, number of internodes per cane, internode length and cane yield per stool. Among lines, Co 7201 for internode length, cane height, cane hardness and cane yield, and Co 7304 for brix were the good general combiners. IA 1141 was good male donor for millable canes, cane height and cane yield. Based on sca effects and mean performance three crosses, Co 7201 x Co 7314, Co 1148 x Co 6806 and Co 7304 x Co 7314 were found promising for cane yield. The present study revealed that potential donor for brix could be selected on the basis of gca effects offemale parent.