Genetics of Four Morphological Traits in Datura Stramonium L.

Six genetical populations of four Datura stramonium L crosses involving five parents were grown in 1974 and estimates of gene effects for four morphological characters, viz., plant height, internode number, stem weight and leaf yield were obtained. Additive gene action was found to be more important than dominance type for all the four characters. The crosses showing higher additive gene effect also expressed higher additive × dominance interaction. Additive × additive and dominance × dominance effects attained significance in some crosses. Out of 4 crosses, the cross EC 25041 × EC 25805 expressed significant additive gene action with complementary epistasis for leaf yield. It, therefore, deserved further studies in advance generatious for selection of genotypes giving high leaf yield.