Abstract

Six elite chewing tobacco varieties were evaluated for heterosis and combining ability for yield and yield component characters F1- 11 (1-115 x VR-2) and F1-13 (PV-7 x VR-2) recorded maximum heterotic vigour of 14.7% and 17.4% increase over the better parent in total yield and whole leaf yield respectively. The variances of general combining ability (gca) were significant for whole leaf, total yield and leaf area and in general, variance of specific combining ability (sca) were not significant for any character. The magnitude of gca was higher than that of sca indicating predominance of additive gene action. 1-64 and PV-7 showed positive and high gca effects and these are ideal parents for future breeding programmes for chewing tobacco crop improvement.

Keywords: Chewing tobacco, Heterosis, Combining ability.