1Present address: College of Horticulture and Research Station, Raijnandgaon, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV), Chhattisgarh
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, 502 324, Telangana
2Present address: Villa 17 NMC, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
A set of 102 hybrid combinations, developed by crossing three A4CMS lines and 34 diverse testers, was evaluated to identify potential parental genotypes for breeding new high yielding cultivars. The hybrid combinations were assessed for their performance, standard heterosis and combining ability. Significant differences were recorded for parents versus hybrids for yield and its related traits, suggesting the presence of substantial heterotic responses. Highly significant GCA effects for yield were recorded within the female parents and testers. Relatively more number of hybrids involving ICPA 2092, as female parent, exhibited significant positive SCA values for yield, days to flower, plant height, primary branches, pods/plant, seed size and seeds/pod. A total of 45 hybrids recorded significant SCA effects for productivity. The yield superiority of hybrids over the inbred control cultivar ranged from 50.81 to 76.89%. Interestingly, 23 hybrids were also found superior to the first released pigeonpea hybrid ICPH 2671 by a margin of 5.48% to 64.31%. On the basis of their performance in hybrid combinations, the testers were classified into seven heterotic groups. The present study identified two CMS lines (ICPA 2092 and ICP 2043) and 13 testers including ICP 3525, ICPL 20196, BDN 2001-6 and BSMR 198 etc. as potential parental lines for use in breeding medium duration pigeonpea pure line and hybrid cultivars.
Combining ability, genetic diversity, heterotic group, parental lines
