Combining ability and heterosis for pod yield and its related horticultural traits in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) under mid-hill sub-temperate and high-hill dry-temperate conditions of Himachal Pradesh

A line x tester analysis involving 10 promising lines and 2 testers having wider genetic base were carried out for pod yield and related horticultural traits in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) in diverse environments at Kukumseri (dry-temperate) and Palampur (sub-temperate) during summer 2004 and winter 2004–05, respectively. Among the parents, Green Pearl, Azad P 1, DPP 9418–06 and DPP 9411 were observed as good general combiners for pod yield/plant and majority of the component traits. The cross combinations Green Pearl x DPP 9411 and Azad P 1 x Sugar Giant showed high heterosis and sea effects for pod yield and related horticultural traits. The cross Green Pearl x Sugar Giant was the most promising for early flowering and green pod picking. For powdery mildew incidence, the cross VRPMR 10 x Sugar Giant where both parents revealed high negative gea effects also showed significant negative sea effect and heterosis. For most of the traits including pod yield/plant, both additive and non-additive gene actions were of prime importance.