Genetic studies on important horticultural traits using Line × Tester analysis in pomegranate

An investigation was carried out to study the combining ability and gene action estimates for various plant growth and physico-chemical characteristics in pomegranate by following line × tester mating design which included fve lines namely; Mridula, G-137, Kandhari Kabuli, Bhagwa and Ganesh and two testers viz., NT-1 and MH-1. The study revealed higher dominance variance compared to the additive variance for majority of the traits except plant height, fruit weight, number of arils per fruit, days from full bloom to harvest, sugars content, titratable acidity and TSS: acid ratio indicating the major role of non-additive gene action for these characteristics. The present investigation identifed the parent G-137 as a good general combiner for plant height, fruit weight, fruit size, number of arils per fruit, days from full bloom to harvest, fruit yield and titratable acidity, while Bhagwa was found to be the best general combiner for leaf area, fruit weight, number of arils per fruit, total sugars, reducing sugars and TSS: acid ratio on the basis of desirable signifcant GCA effects. The cross of G-137×NT-1 was a good specific combiner for most of the desirable traits viz; fruit weight, fruit size, number of arils per fruit, fruit yield and total sugars and Bhagwa×NT-1 cross was found to have signifcant positive specific combining ability effects for fruit weight, fruit size, days from full bloom to harvest and fruit yield.