Abstract

A line x tester analysis was made in blackgram with five ovule parents and four pollinator parents so as to identify suitable general and specific combiners for breeding programme. Additive type of gene action was observed for plant height, number of clusters, number of pods and seed yield per plant. Parents T 9 and DU 1 were good general combiners for seed yield, number of clusters and number of pods per plant. The cross combinations Co 5 x NPRB 1 and TMV 1 x NPRB 2 were the best specific combiners for seed yield per plant. Co 5 x NPRB 1 was the best combination for number of clusters, number of pods, pod length and seed yield per plant. Since both additive and non additive gene actions were responsible for different characters, breeding systems involving intermating of F2 or delayed selection in later generation may help to harness all the desirable genes.

Keywords: Blackgram, Combining ability.