Combining ability analysis for yield and its component characters in castor (Ril1Nus communis L.)

A 10 x 10 half-diallel analysis for combining ability was carried out in castor for seed yield per plant and six components traits. The studies indicated the preponderance of additive gene action for all the traits. Parents VI-9, SKI-8A, 48-1 were the best general combiners for seed yield, number of capsules in main raceme and other important traits. Crosses SH-75 x 1379, 48-1 X SKI-8A and SKI-8A x EC-103745 for yield per plant were the best specific combinations to exploit non-fixable components. The per se performance of the parents was a good index of their combining ability, but the per se performance of crosses was not associated tvith sea effects. Crosses showing high sea effects for seed yield also possessed high sea effects for important yield attributes and were involved with good x good, good x poor or poor X poor general combiners.