GENETICAL STUDY FOR EARLINESS IN PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM L.

Abstract

The nature and magnitude of genetic variance and combining ability were studied in a lO-parent diallel of opium poppy (papaver somniferum L.) for days to flowering and maturity. The analysis revealed partial dominance in Fl and overdominance in F2 for days to flower and overdominance in both the generations for days to maturity. Combining ability analysis indicated the predominance of nonadditive geneaction (crs) for both traits.. The parent BR-9 possesses maximum number of recessive genes and was also the best general combiner for both the traits. The crosses Gz X KDB and Gz x BR-9 for days to flower and KDB x BR-9 for days to maturity were the best combinations with additive x additive gene interaction. Abreeding programme to develop early maturing genotypes is discussed.