Gene action and combining ability in grain cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in relation to aphid borne mosaic virus resistance

Abstract

Two lines, five testers and ten hybrids of cowpea were evaluated in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 94-95, with the objective of estimating the combining ability of parents and gene action involved in the inheritance of different yield attributes and CAMV resistance. The lines and testers were selected based on their previous performances and crossed in line x tester manner to get ten hybrids. Observations were made on ten characters, of which nine characters showed significant difference among the 17 treatments. It was seen that nonadditive gene action was predominated for the inheritance of number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, 100 - seed weight and seed yield/plant and aphid borne mosaic resistance and additive gene action for days to flowering, days to maturity and number of branches/plant. The varieties Pournami, V - 317, V - 276 and Charodi were the best general combiners and the cross combinations V - 317 x CO4 and V-276 x Pournami were the best specific combinations for yield and CAMV resistance. Hence they can be utilized for further crop improvement programme.