Combining ability in grass cowpea [Vigna unguiculata var- sesquipedails]

Abstract

Two lines, six testers and twelve bybrids of cowpea were evaluated in the partially shaded conditions of coconut garden of Vellayani for combining ability and gene action. The lines and testers were selected based on their previous performance and crossed in line x tester manner to get twelve hybrids. Observations were made on sixteen characters of which twelve characters showed significant differences among the twenty treatments. Combining ability analysis was carried out as suggested by kempthorn (1957) suggested the importance of specific combining ability for all the characters except for length of pod and days to flowering. It was seen that the varieties chharodi – 1, Culture – 9, V – 26 and GC – 82 – 7 were the best general combiners and the cross combinations Chharodi – 1 x V – 26, Chharodi – 1 x Kanakamani and Culture – 9 x V – 322 were the best specific combinations for yield and yield attributes under partially shaded upland conditions. The yield and important yield attributes were under the control of non – additive gene actions except days to flowering and length of pod. The varieties Culture – 9, GC – 82 – 7,Chharodi – 1 and V – 26 and the cross combinations Chharodi–1 x V–26, Chharodi-1 x Kanakamani and Culture –9 x Kanakamani can be further exploited through selection.