Combining ability analysis for yield and its components in hybrid rice

Sixteen fertility restorers were selected after screening 60 improved germplasm collections with 3 cytosterile lines. The restorers and their hybrids were evaluated for grain yield and its component traits. The Restorer BPT 5204, Taraori Basmati, Sarju-52, Type-3, and HUBR2-1 were found to be good general combiners for grain yield and other traits. Among CMS lines, IR68897A was found to be good general combiner for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and number of spikelet panicle−1. Pusa Sugandha-3 and Pusa Sugandha-4 both exhibited better gca for majority of the quality traits. The specific cross combinations characterized with high significant sca effects were Pusa6A Krishna Hansa, Pusa6A Type-3 and IR68897A Type-3 for grain yield plant−1, number of grains panicle−1 and number of effective tillers plant−1. BPT 5204 was found to be the best on the basis of per se performance and gca effects for grain yield plant−1, number of spikelets panicle−1 and number of grains panicle−1; Narendra-359 and Krishna Hansa for days to 50% flowering, panicle length. Pusa6A Krishna Hansa was found to be the best on the basis of per se performance and sca effects for number of effective tillers plant−1, panicle length and grain yield plant−1. The gca effects of the parents were not reflected in the sca effects of the crosses in all traits studied.