COMBINING ABILITY FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERS AND OPIUM YIELD IN OPIUM POppy (PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM L.)

Abstract

The combining ability analysis was worked out in Fl and F2 generations ol 8 x 8 parents half diallel lor physiological characters and opium yield in opium poppy. Results revealed that both additive and nonadditive genetic components ol variance governed the expression olopium yield and physiological characters studied, lormer being predominant in both the generations. Among the varieties,MOP539 lor opium yield, harvest index, days to 50% flowering, leal area and leal area index and MOP 507 lor opium yield, biological yield,NBPGR 1 lor opium yield and early flowering and NOP4 lor harvest index appeared to be good general combiners. They can be used as donors in future breedinglorhigh opium yield with ellicient harvest index. In respect ol specilic combining ability, crosses MOP 539 x NOP 4, NBPGR 1 x NBRI 3, and NOP 4 xVO 185 showed best cross combinations lor opium yield with harvest index.