Genetical study for earliness in Papaver somniferum L.

The nature and magnitude of genetic variance and combining ability were studied in a 10-parent diallel of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) for days to flowering and maturity. The analysis revealed partial dominance in F₁ and overdominance in F₂ for days to flower and overdominance in both the generations for days to maturity. Combining ability analysis indicated the predominance of nonadditive gene action (σ²s) for both traits. The parent BR-9 possesses maximum number of recessive genes and was also the best general combinerfor both the traits. The crosses Gz X KDB and Gz x BR-9 for days to flower and KDB x BR-9 for days to maturity were the best combinations with additive x additive gene interaction. A breeding programme to develop early maturing genotypesis discussed.