Combining ability analysis was carried out in marigold based on 6 x 4 line x tester analysis for 9 important characters. Variance due to general combining ability (gca) highly exceeded the variance due to specific combining ability (sca) for all the characters and was also significant. These high gca and sca values indicated that their inheritance was predominantly governed by additive and non-additive components. The varieties Sutton's Double Orange, Bhubaneswar Local Orange, Newtech Orange and Early Yellow Single are good combiners for flower yield and its component traits.
Marigold, combiniing ability, line × tester
