Genetics of Flowering and Maturity Time in Garden Pea*

Analysis of the data relating to days to flowering and maturity from F₁ and F₂ generations of a 5 × 5 diallel cross in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) by both Griffing's and Hayman's methods revealed that in the cultivars under study both the traits were under the control of additive gene action, although substantial dominance effect was also found for maturity. The important assumptions underlying diallel cross analysis were generally fulfilled except in the case of F₂ data relating to flowering where t^a-value was significant. While per se performance of the parents was similar to their combining ability effects, the behaviour of the crosses were not parallel. As narrow sense heri-tability was high and additive gene action was preponderant, selection of suitable parental material may result in rapid genetic advance for earliness.