Combining ability for seed yield and its components in Papaver somniferum L.

Line x tester analysis involving 4 male and 31 female parents in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) alongwith their F₁ hybrids was carried out in four environments. The results indicated that both general and specific combining abilities were important in the expression of seed yield and its components, viz., husk yield, plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area index. However, nonadditive components of genetic variances was predominant. The parent varieties MOP 3, MOP 379, MOP 319, Ie 7 and IC 128 were good general combiners for seed and husk yield, the latter two parents also extended their good general combining ability to stemdiameter. The best specific cross combinations were NOP 1 x IC 42, IC 19 X MOP 3 for seed yield and leaf area index, and MOP 539 X JA 16, IC 7 X MOP 3 for seed and husk yield.