Department of Agricultural Botany, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580005, India.
**Present address: Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre, Bellary-2(Karnataka).
*Part of thesis submitted by senior author for Ph.D. degree of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.
The gene action for seed yield and its major components was derived by first order measure in eight crosses of saffiower. Simple additive-dominance model could not explain the inheritance of all the six characters. As per the six parameter model, dominance effects in dwarf x tall, additive effects in medium x tall combinations predominated for plant height. Dominance as well as non-allelic interactions, particularly dominance x dominance and additive x additive were important for total capitula which reflected in the magnitude of heterosis. Additive, dominance and interaction parameters were important all components of genetic variation in yield per capitulum. The additive effects and the additive x additive interaction in majority of crosses suggested the possible improvement of seed weight by selection. Dominance component was significant in seven crosses for seed number but negative in four of them. Dominance effects followed by interactions and additive component were all found to play significant role in the inheritance of seed yield. Breeding methods which utilize both additive and non-additive gene action such as reciprocal recurrent selection are suggested for improvement of seed yield in safflower.
