Identification of superior parents and cross combinations by using Line x Tester analysis in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bengaluru during 2009-10. The experimental material consisted of four lines viz., GE 4596, GE 6216, GE 4906 and GPU 28 and four testers viz., L 5, GE 5095, GPU 69 and GPU 48. The crosses were affected in a Line × Tester fashion. The results revealed that among the lines GE 4596 and GPU 28 and among the testers L 5 and GPU 69 had recorded high per se and gca for yield and most of the yield contributing characters. Among the hybrid combinations GE 4596 × L 5 and GE 4596 × GPU 69 had significant and superior per se performance for grain yield per plant, straw yield per plant, finger length, peduncle length, number of fingers per ear, culm thickness and number of productive tillers per plant. Results from specific combining ability study, revealed that the crosses viz., GE 4596 × L 5, GE 6216 × GPU 48 and GE 4906 × GPU 48 had significant sca effects for most of the characters. The hybrids, GE 4596 × L 5, GE 4596 × GPU 69 and GPU 28 × L 5 were from parents with high × high gca and GE 4596 × GE 5095, GE 6216 × GPU 69, GE 4906 × GPU 69 and GPU 28 × GE 5095 were from parents with high × low gca combinations. Thus, six crosses are suggested for realization of transgressive segregants in F2 and subsequent generations.