Heterosis in relation to combining ability in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

Genetic analysis was undertaken in 6 x 6 diallel cross set for yield and its associated traits in chickpea. Heterosis and combining ability studies were conducted on parents GL 769, C 214, GG 1267, GL 90168, GL 96010 and GL 98010 and their 15 F1 hybrids for traits days to flower initiation, days to pod initiation, plant height, number of branches, number of pods, number of seeds per pod, plant biomass, harvest index, grain yield and 100 - seed weight. For major grain yield components, namely, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, harvest index, 100-seed weight and shorter plant height, the heterosis was observed either due to good gca of the parents or due to high sca effect of the respective crosses. The proportion of the hybrids exhibiting significant heterotic effects were greater with lines GL 98010, GL 96010 and GL 90168. The results showed no direct association between the general combining abilities of the parents involved in the crosses and heterotic response. Choice of best cross combination on the basis of high sca or per se performance would not necessarily give high heterosis. The gca, sca and per se performance of the crosses should be given equal importance while selecting for heterotic combinations.