Combining ability and heterosis for yield and its attributes in Greengram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

Five lines were crossed with four testers in line × tester fashion to determine the nature of gene action, combining ability and heterosis for yield and yield contributing traits in greengram. Analysis of variance for combining ability suggested the preponderance of non-additive type of gene action for majority of the traits except for tolerance to MYMV. Based on the per se performance and gca effects, the parents viz., TM-96-2, LGG-460, MGG-351, WGG-37 and PM-112 were found to be the best general combiners. The per se, sca effects and standard heterosis indicated that the crosses LGG-460 × WGG-37, TM-96-2 × WGG-37 and MGG-351 × WGG-37 may be exploited through recombination breeding programme, while the crosses MGG-351 × PM-115, TM-96-2 × PM-112 and LGG-460 × PM-112 are the promising crosses for hybrid breeding programme. Biparental mating or diallel selective mating, followed by pedigree method of selection would be effective alternate approaches for the improvement of productivity in greengram.