Genetic Analysis of Annual Chrysanthemum by Diallel Mating

The present experiment on was comprised of Diallel analysis of 30 crosses developed from six parents viz., NAC-01-10, NAC-02-10, NAC-03-10, NAC-04-10, NAC-05-10, NAC-0610 selected for petal colour and number of layers of petals including reciprocals was analysed for growth and yield characters to estimate magnitude of useful heterosis and general combing ability of parents, specific combining ability and reciprocal combining ability of crosses and to identify potential F₁‘s for advancing in further. The experiment was conducted during the year 2010–2012 at Farm of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Nagpur. All the crosses exhibited significant heterosis in both positive and negative direction. The mean squares due to general combining ability were significant for all the characters studied except, days to 50% flowering from transplanting and petal width. The mean squares due to specific and reciprocal combining ability were significant for all the characters except days to 50% flowering from transplanting. The four parents, NAC-06-10 (showing superior performance for eight characters), NAC05-10, NAC-03-10 (for six characters) and NAC-04-10 (for five characters) were identified as good combiners based on mean performance and gca effects. These genotypes were recommended for their use in the crossing program or for developing gene pool. High mean performance, significant useful heterosis in desirable direction and positive significance sca/rca effects were considered as the criteria for selecting potential crosses based on which the cross NAC02-10 x NAC-06-10 following criteria for eight characters, NAC-02-10 x NAC-03-10 and NAC-03-10 x NAC-04-10 following the criteria for four characters were identified as the potential crosses for hybrid production program.