Additive, dominance and epistatic components of variation for seed protein content in pea Pisum sativum L.)

Triple test-cross (TTC) and line X tester analysis involving 16 elite lines of peas was carried out to investigate the nature of gene action and combining ability for seed protein content. Epistasis, mainly of (j+1) type, was an integral component of genetic variation. Both the triple test-eross and line X tester approaches revealed seed protein content to the governed by both additive and dominance genetic variances, the former being preponderant. The dominance was ambidirectional. The additive and dominance variances were underestimated by the line X tester analysis than by TTC analysis. Lines HPPC 84, HPPC 43, Kinnauri and HPPC 91 were good general combiners, while HPPC 91 X HPPC 63 and HPPC 43 X HPPC 63 were promising crosses on the basis of specific combining ability.