COMBINING ABILITY OF THE NEW BIVOLTINES BY LINE X TESTER ANALYSIS

The combining ability studies of the isolated lines characterized by high viability along with the traditional bivoltine testers characterized by high productivity and their sixteen hybrids were evaluated for the performance with regard to ten economic traits. Appropriate statistical methods were employed to interpret the data on the hybrid performance, general combining ability of lines and testers and the specific combining ability of the hybrids. Analysis of variance for combining ability revealed larger mean squares for the traits analyzed in the lines than those of testers indicating the genetic diversity of the lines for combining ability. Three isolated lines MG 414, MG 408 and MG 406 were observed to reveal positive gca effects for more than two characters reflecting their genetic make up to derive hybrid combinations with considerable economic merit. Among the sixteen hybrid combinations, twelve hybrids exhibited significant sca for more than one character. Analysis of variance computed for ten economic traits of eight parents and sixteen hybrids revealed significant variations between parents Vs crosses for all the characters except for fecundity, thus accounting for the existence of considerable amount of heterosis in the hybrids. On the basis of the performance of new hybrids, gca of lines and sca of hybrids, promising hybrids and their effective utilization for commercial exploitation are discussed.