Selection of elite parents and crosses for seed yield and its components using combining ability analysis over the three environments in safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.)

Abstract

Thirty crosses developed through line × tester mating design were evaluated along with parents in three environments to estimate gca and sca effects of parents and crosses, respectively for yield and its contributing traits. Based on consistent performance over three environments in safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.) genotypes, BHIMA, GMU 3876, GMU 3863, GMU 7351, GMU 2757, AKS 08R and AKS CMS 2B were found to be good general combiners for yield and most of yield contributing characters. Hybrids, AKS CMS 2A x BHIMA, AKS CMS 2A x GMU 3876 and AKS CMS 2A x GMU 3863 having high sca effects were found promising for seed yield per plant and other traits over the three environments. The results indicated that these parents could be exploited in hybridization programmes for genetic improvement of individual traits. However, the promising hybrids having high sca effects may be used for heterosis breeding after multi-locations testing.