Combining ability analysis in soybean

Combining ability analysis was undertaken in I0 × 10 parental diallel progenies for seed yield and its component chraracters, Pod clusters/plant, seeds/plant. harvest index and seed yield/plant were observed to be controlled mainly by additrve genetic variance, while both additrve and nonadditive genetic variances were important for the remaining characters, the former being more important. Variety Cocker Stuart was the bast general combiner for 6 out of 10 characters. Mean performance of the lines was related with their gca effects. The best specific crosses for seed yield was Hardee × Cocker Stuart, followed by Himso 328 × Himso 353 and Himso 328 × Himso 351. The crosses with high sca effects were involved in majority of cases, both poor or good general combiners, and in some cases, one being good and other being a poor combiner.