Combining Ability Analysis for Yield and Other Quantitative Traits in Soybean (Glycine max L. Merril)

Genetic analysis was carried out using 5x5 diallel set of soybean crosses along with the parents for estimation of combining ability. The analysis revealed that the parents and crosses differ significantly for general combining ability and specific combining ability effects. The gca and sca components suggested predominance of additive gene effects for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and plant height and non-additive gene effects for all the traits. Parents JS 335 and RAUS 5 were the good combiners for grain yield/plant whereas parent Bragg was best combiner for days to 50% flowering and days to maturity. The crosses JS 93–05 x PS 562, RAUS 5 x Bragg and PS 562 x RAUS 5 were found to be the best specific combiners for grain yield/plant while cross PS 562 x RAUS 5 for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity and plant height.