Combining ability studies for yield, quality and storage in onion

Combining ability effects were estimated for different characters in a line × tester crossing programme comprising 96 onion hybrids produced by crossing of 3 male sterile lines and 32 testers. Parents and hybrids differed significantly for gca and sca effects, respectively. Among the lines, 30A and 97A and among the testers CT-1201, CT-1202, CT-1204, CT-1205, CT-1207 and CT-1217 were found to be the good general combiners. Five cross combinations, viz., 65A × CT-1213, 65A × CT-1227, 97A × CT-1230, 65A × CT-1209 and 97A × CT-1220 were found to be best specific crosses for bulb yield and most of the important traits including keeping quality. Results showed that non-additive variation is an integral component of the genetic architecture of different traits in onion.