Components of genetic variations in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

An experiment was carried out to study the nature of gene action in linseed through diallel analysis among ten parents and their 45 F₂s and 45F₂s. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the traits. It was observed that both additive and dominance effect played important role for all the traits except capsules plant:¹ and seed yield plant:¹ in both the generations. The estimates of h²were significant for plant height, primary branches plant:¹, secondary branches⁻¹, capsules plant:¹, seed yield plant:¹ and 1000-seed weight in both the generations indicating the presence of dominant genes. Degree of dominance for all the traits except days to 50% flowering, plant height and 1000-seed weight in F₁ generation showed over dominance. The proportion of genes with positive and negative effect (H₂/₁4 H₁) showed asymmetrical distribution of genes for all characters in both the generations. The ratio of dominant and recessive genes in the parents showed that dominant genes are more frequent for most of the traits.