Combining ability and gene action for yield and yield contributing traits in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Three lines were crossed with seven testers in a L x T mating design to estimate combining ability for yield and its attributing traits in groundnut, Arachis hypogaea L. The variance due to specific combining ability (SCA) was greater than variance due to general combining ability (GCA) for all the characters under study except days to maturity which indicated the role of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of these characters. The parents R-2001-2, ICGV-00451, SEL-1 and GPBD-5 were identified as good general combiners for the most of the yield attributing characters as they recorded high per se with positive significant gca effects for pod yield/plant. Among 21 crosses evaluated, five crosses R-2001-2 x GPBD-5, ICGV91114 x KRG-1, R-2001-2 x TPT-25, ICGV-00350 x TAG-24 and ICGV-00350 x TMV-2 exhibited high and positive significant sca effects for pod yield/plant.