The genetic analysis of combining ability and gene action for yield and its associated traits in Barley [(Hordeum vulgare L.)]

The present experiment was under taken in six rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to analyze component of genetic variance, combining ability and gene action for yield and yield contributing traits in Barley using Diallel analysis. Both additive and non-additive gene action were found to control the expression of the traits under study. The magnitude of general combining ability variances was higher than the specific combining ability variances for all the characters which indicated preponderance of additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits. The GCA/SCA variance ratio was less than unity indicated the importance of non-additive gene action for all the characters under investigation. On the basis of GCA effects and per se performance over the environments, an overall evaluation showed that the parents RD2786, RD2715 and RD 2035 in E₁, E2 and E₃; emerged as good general combiners for grain yield with simultaneous consideration of other characters (Table 5.2). Therefore, these parents could be intensively used in the hybridization programme to develop lines with several desirable characters for further tangible advancement of barley yield. On the basis of SCA effects and per se performance, some crosses viz., RD2786 x RD2715 for F₁, RD2786 x BH946 for F₂ in E₁;RD 2786 x RD 2715 and RD 2786 x BH 946 for F1 and F₂ in E₂ and in E₃ appeared as good specific cross combinations for grain yield and some associated traits (Table 5.3). These crosses have great potential for improvement of barley and may be utilize in multiple crossing programme.