Potato Journal

Twenty two parents and their seventy two progenies from factorial (18 × 4) mating design were evaluated for two clonal generations. Data were recorded for ten agronomic characters and subjected to heterosis and combining ability analysis. Mean squares due to various sources including interactions with generations were significant for various characters. The magnitude of heterosis varied within as well as between characters. Tuberosum × andigena crosses were superior to tuberosum × tuberosum crosses for realising heterosis for most of the characters. Non-additive gene actions were more important than additive gene actions for various characters except for tuber yield and plant vigour for which additive gene actions were more important, and general impression for which both additive and non-additive gene actions were equally important. Specific combining ability effects of crosses were not related to general combining ability effects of the parents involved. Use of at least one parent with good general combining ability resulted in high performing heterotic progenies for various characters. Superior parents and crosses were identified.