Department of Plant Breeding, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Online published on 25 January, 2012.
Extent of heterosis and combining ability were studied in a diallel cross of cowpeas for yield, pod length, seeds per pod and 100-seed weight. Heterosis in yield seemed to be influenced by heterosis in pod length and seeds per pod. The best hybrid combination for grain yield was C 34 × C 85 which showed heterosis over mid parent to the extent of 39 per cent.
Combining ability analysis indicated the importance of both general and specific combining ability variance for yield, pod length and seed weight, whereas only specific combining ability variance was important for seeds per pod.
