Abstract

                                Combining ability of the three pistillate lines and eight testers was assessed by Line x .ester analysis. The variance components due to sea were higher than gca for five characters except for number of nodes upto the main spike indicating the predominance of non- additive gene action. The genotypes 262-1 and TMV 5 mutant 3 were the good general combiners. The hybrid combinations 240 x TMV 5 mutant 1, 240 x TMV 5 mutant 4 and 262 1 x TMV 5 mutant 3 were good specific combiners. These materials can be profitably utilised in the exploitation of new hybrids in castor.

Key words : Castor,Line x Tester Analysis, Mutants of TMV 5, Non- Additive Gene Action, General Combiners, Specific Combiners.