Heterosis and Combining Ability in Peas

Ten diverse cultivars of peas (Pisum sativum L.) were crossed in diallel and the parents, F1s and F2s evaluated for five quantitative characters. All traits studied except plant height showed considerable heterosis and inbreeding depression. Yield heterosis based on the mid-parent averaged 47 per cent and on the high parent 22 per cent. Both general and specific combining ability were important for all the traits studied; however, additive gene effects were predominant in the inheritance of these quantitative characters.