To screen out good general combiners and best specific combinations in rice breeding programme

General combining ability effects revealed that good general combiners (Govind) and (IR66155-2-1-1-2) for days to nowering, (Govind), (IR66155-2-1-1-2), (IR66159-23-2-2-1), (IR66763-75-1-3) for plant height, (IR65600-S1-5-3-2), (IR66155-2-1-1-2), (IR66763-75-1-3) for number of tillers/plant in both the generations, (IR66159-23-2-2-1) and (IR65600-S1-5-3-2) for leaf length, (IR6673675-1-3) and (IR 65600-S1-5-3-2) for leaf width, (Plant Dhan-12) and (IR6673S-1181-2) for panicle length, (IR6673S-118-1-2), (IR66159-23-2-2-1), (IR66155-2-1-1-2) and (IR66736- 75-1-3) for number of spikelets/Panicle (IR65600-S1-5-3-2) and (IR66155-2-1-1-2) for 100-grain weight, (IR66′155-2-1-1-2), (IR66_59-23-2-2-1) and (IR66736-75-1-3) for grain yield/plant in both the generations.

The specific combining ability effects for grain yield/plant were significant and in desirable direction in 15 cross combinations in F1 and 12 cross combinations in F2 generation. The cross (Jaya) X (IR66738-118-1-2), (Pant Dhan-12) X (IR66155-21-1-2) and (Pant Dhan-12) X (IR66159-23-2-2-1) were good specific combinations for grain yield/plant in both the generations.