Diallel analysis for yield and its component traits in field pea (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense)

An experiment was carried out at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh to study the nature of gene action in field pea (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense) through diallel analysis among ten parents and their 45 crosses. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all traits. Variances due to parents vs. F1s were significant for days to flowering, plant height, internodes plant⁻¹, pods plant⁻¹ and 1000-grain weight. Significant additive variance for days to 50% flowering and maturity, primary branches plant⁻¹ and internodes plant⁻¹, plant height and pod length was observed. Dominance component was highly significant for all the traits, and the distribution of positive and negative alleles indicated asymmetry of loci showing dominance in all the traits. The number of gene groups controlling the attributes was <1, indicating complementary action. The estimates of heritability (h²ns) and genetic advance both were high for plant height (86 and 70%) and internodes plant⁻¹ (34 and 46%). High heritability with low genetic advance was found for days to maturity (62 and 6%), moderate heritability with high genetic advance was found for primary branches plant⁻¹ (19 and 35%) and grain yield plant⁻¹ (16 and 39%). Moderate heritability and moderate genetic advance was exhibited in pod length (27 and 15%) and low heritability with high genetic advance was found for pods plant⁻¹ (9 and 40%).