Diallel Analysis of Yield and its Components in Pea*

A quantitative genetic study of the inheritance of yield and its certain components was carried out with 5 varieties of garden pea from parents, F₁ and F₂ progenies utilizing the Jinks-Hayman diallel cross analysis technique. Tests revealed that all the assumptions underlying diallel cross analysis were more or less fulfilled. Both additive and non-additive genetic components were significant for no. of primary branches, pod length and 25-seed weight although the former was predominant in the first two traits while non-additive component was high in 25-seed weight. Only additive genetic variance was significant for no. of pods/plant and no. of seeds per pod while only dominance was significant in F₁ generation of seed yield/plant. Narrow sense heritability value indicated that rapid genetic advance through selection could be made in all traits except 25-seed weight and seed yield per plant.