Combining ability studies in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] hybrids

Twelve cytoplasmic genetic male sterile lines were crossed with 5 restorer lines in Line x Tester design. The resultant 60 hybrids were evaluated along with their parents and the standard checks (‘JKM 189’ and ‘TJT 501’) during Kharif 2010. Combining ability analysis revealed predominance of non-additive gene effect for all the characters indicating relevance of heterosis breeding for improving the yield and its attributes in pigeonpea. The lines ICPA 2086, ICPA 2089, ICPA 2052, ASHA and GT 101 were good general combiner for seed yield and crosses ICPA 2086 x ASHA, ICPA 20 and x JKE 114 and GT 33 x JKM 189 showed higher sca effect for seed yield/plant. Besides ICPA 2079 x ASHA, ICPA 2086 x JKE 114, ICPA 2047 x JKE 114 were the top most heterotic hybrids for seed yield/plant. These crosses also manifested high and significant standard heterosis for pods/plant and 100 seed weight.