Abstract

                                Combining ability for grain yield, panicle length, panicle weight and number of grains was estimated through a full diallel analysis involving 6 parents of sorghum viz. Co.18, 148, Co.23, Co,22, CSV.3 and AS.3880 under four environments. The variances due to GCA and SCA were significant, the former being predominant. The operation of both additive and non-additive gene actions in the inheritance of the four characters studied was inferred. Among the parents P3 (Co.23) exhibited high positive and significant gea effects with high per se performance. The hybrid P4 X P5, F1 X P3 and P2 X P3 showed high positive significant sea effects for grain yield. The hybrids involving P3 as one of the parents were generally better in per se performance and sea effects for economic traits observed. Considering the gene actions (fixable and non-fixable) involved, a recurrent selection programme for the improvement of grain yield and its components is suggested.

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