Combining Ability in Urdbean

The 8 x 8 parent diallel excluding reciprocals and including parents was studied. Both the additive and non-additive gene effects were significant and important for plant height, pod length, 100-seed weight and seed yield with the preponderance of additive gene effects. However, for primary branches, secondary branches and seeds per pod only additive gene effects were important. The parent L35-5 was good combiner for seed yield, pod length, seeds per pod and 100-seed weight and average combiner for other traits; the parent G37 was good general combiner for seed yield, pod length and pods per plant; the parent T9 for seed yield and pods per plant and Mash 1–1 for 100-seed weight. Similarly a few crosses involving high X high, high X average or average X average general combiners and possessing high s.c.a. effects have been sorted out.