Abstract

                                Three lines were crossed with fourteen testers and resultant fortytwo hybrid combinations and their parents were evaluated for combining ability for fodder yield and their component characters. Observations were recorded on fodder yield and quality characters. Non-additive gene action was predominent for all the characters except for paint height. Among the lines, 2077 A expressed its superior per se performance for plant height, number of leaves, total soluable solids crude protein yield and dry matter production M 35-1 and K7 showed its superiority in gca effects, sca effects, the crosses 2077 A x FS 35-1, 2077 A x FS 1, 2219 Ax FS1 and 2219 Ax 35-1 were best. On the basis of gene action and combining ability appropriate improvement programme for the traits associated with fodder yield has been suggested

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