Estimation of Combining Ability and Gene Action For Growth and Flowering Traits In Lilium Longiflorum

Abstract

To predict the breeding potential for the growth and flowering traits in Lilium longiflorum (later on L. longiflorum) an experiment was carried out with the application of Line×Testers model taking four lines and two testers there by producing eight L×T hybrids. All fourteen genotypes were evaluated for important growth and flowering traits in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. All genotypes, lines and testers also revealed significant mean sum square value for all studied traits. General combining ability (later on GCA) effects indicated that out of four lines; Line1, (WT×12-1) had performed best with positive significant effects for plant height, stem diameter, number of flower and attitude of the floral axis. While testers 2, HU-2 were very effective donors exhibiting significant GCA effects for plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf width and number of flowers etc. Among the eight L×T hybrids, cross (1×2), (WT×12-1) ×IS-5 found to be superior which demonstrated significant specific combining ability(SCA)effects in the positive direction for plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, number of flower, days to flowering and bud length. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf width, number of flower, flower diameter and bud length demonstrated the additive type of gene action while for number of leaves, leaf length, days to flowering and attitude of floral axis predominantly demonstrated the prevailing of dominance gene action.