Abstract

Combining ability was studied in a 6 x 6 diallel set of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill.) for seed yield and its components. The study revealed that the variances due to gea and sea were significant for all the characters, indicating the characters were governed by both additive and non-additive gene action. The sca variance was higher than gca variance for most of the characters, indicating preponderance of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits. The genotypes Col and MACS 124 were found to be the good general combiners while four hybrids viz. Col x EC 9472. MACS 124 x Bragg, Col x Co2 and Col x EC 4296 were identified as best specific combiners for seed yield and other productive traits.

Keywords: Diallel, Combining ability, Soybean