Combining Ability in Linseed

The nature of combining ability in linseed (Linum usitattissimum) was studied in a set of diallel (including reciprocals) crosses of ten diverse cultivars. Variances due to g.c.a. and s.c.a. were significant for all the traits; g.c.a. variance was relatively larger in magnitude than s.c.a. variance. Reciprocal differences were significant for plant height, branches per plant and seed yield in one season whereas for seeds per capsule and seed yield in the other. None of the parents appeared to be a good general combiner of all the characters. Individually ‘E.C. 77909’ and ‘NP(RR)204’ for tillers per plant and branches per plant; ‘B5-33 and Mukta’ for plant height; ‘Hira’, ‘Mukta’ and ‘T397’ for seeds per capsule; ‘Hira’, ‘Mukta’, ‘Neelum’, ‘E.C. 78136’ and ‘Bichpuri Local’ for 1000-seed weight were good combiners. The crosses of E.C. 77909 with B5-33 and Neelum and also the crosses of ‘Hira’, ‘Mukta’ and ‘Neelum’ with ‘Bichpuri Local’ appeared to be extremely good for yield and most of its contributing characters. Both additive and nonadditive gene effects present can be exploited depending upon character and/or specific crosses selected for further improvement of the crop following suitable methods for the handling of subsequent generations.