Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Simran Kirti, Ajay Kumar and VK Sharma

Abstract:
A study was conducted to assess the general combining ability and specific combining ability effects for yield and component traits of some parental lines of baby corn. Using line x tester mating design, twelve inbred lines were crossed with three testers. Performance of the resulting thirty-six crosses were evaluated for nine agronomic traits including baby corn yield in randomized block design with three replications across two seasons. Mean sum of squares due to GCA of lines and SCA of line x tester interactions were found significant for yield and yield related traits studied, revealing the significance of both additive and non-additive gene effects in controlling the inheritance of these traits. Preponderance of additive gene effects was observed in the expression of plant height, ear height and baby corn girth. Conversely, non-additive gene effects appeared more important than additive gene effects for days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking, cob yield, cob weight, green fodder yield and baby corn length. Superior general combiners and cross combinations were identified, which appeared promising for further utilization for developing high yielding baby corn hybrids.