Vol. 10, Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Gite VK, DK Patil, JE Jahagirdar and HV Kalpande

Abstract:
In the present investigation, twenty five genotypes involving five cytoplasmic genetic male sterile lines based on A₂ cytoplasm and twenty restorers from diverse source were evaluated at three different locations viz. Parbhani (L₁), Badnapur (L₂) and Ambajogai (L₃) during Kharif 2020-21. The highly significant differences were observed for male sterile lines and restorers for all the characters studied, however G x E interaction were found significant for all the characters except days to 50% flowering, plant height, pod length and number of seeds per pod indicating its major role in expression of the traits and the performance of the genotypes for seed yield was predicted with great precision across environments. The magnitude of linear component of G x E interaction was greater than non-linear components (pooled deviation) for seed yield and most of the yield components. Female parent BDN 2004-3 A showed average stability for seed yield per plant and most of the important traits viz. days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and protein content. Among male parents (restorers), BDNHR 1, BDNHR 24-1-2 and BDNHR 60-2 exhibited highest seed yield per plant with regression coefficient near to unity and least deviation from regression lines which also exhibited average stability for most of important traits such as number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and pod length. Hence, these parents appeared to hold great promise for development of high yielding and widely adaptable pigeonpea hybrids.