Estimation of combining ability for yield and yield attributing traits in oats (Avena sativa L.)

Combining ability study was carried out in line × tester analysis of five lines (TNAs 17, TNAs 20, TNAs 21, TNAs 22 and TNAs 24) and three testers (TNAs 15, TNAs 18 and TNAs 19) of oats to obtain 15 crosses. The aim of the study was to estimate the combining ability variances and nature of gene action for yield and yield component traits. The combining ability estimates revealed that the values of SCA variances were higher than the GCA variances for all the traits studied indicating the prevalence of non-additive gene action. The TNAs 20 was found to be a good general combiner for days to maturity, number of tillers per plant, number of productive tillers per plant, flag leaf length and width, number of groats per panicle, groat yield per plant and kernel yield per plant. The TNAs 21 appeared to be the best combiner for days to maturity, flag leaf length, panicle length, groat weight and kernel weight per panicle, groat yield and kernel yield per plant. The TNAs 19 parent was a good combiner for plant height, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, panicle exsertion, panicle length, number of groats per panicle, groat yield and kernel yield per plant. Cross combinations viz., TNAs 17 × TNAs 19, TNAs 20 × TNAs 15, TNAs 20 × TNAs 18, TNAs 21 × TNAs 15 and TNAs 24 × TNAs 19 were highly significant and positive for kernel yield and groat yield per plant.