Combining ability and heterosis were studied in line X tester crosses between 10 female and 3 male parents for protein and methionine content in lentil. The gca and sca variances showed that gene action was predominantly nonadditive for both characters. The varieties Ranjan, Precozand Pusa 4 were good general combiners for protein and methionine content (both in protein and floud. Only one cross, E 153 X K 75, showed significant sca effect for protein content. Two crosses, NDL 1 X Pant L 234 and IC 78415 X Pant L 406 were good specific combinations for methionine content alone (in protein as well as flour). BP heterosis ranged from -13.0 to 12.2% for protein content. The BP heterosis ranged from 18.6 to 27.2% and from -24.0 to 47.6% for methionine content in protein and flour, respectively.
Combining ability, line x tester, heterosis, quality, Lens culinaris, lentil
