Abstract:
A study on 'Heterosis and gene action in bajra-napier hybrids' was
carried out with the objective of developing bajra-napier hybrids with high
yield potential and good quality. The study was undertaken during the
year 2001-2002 in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics,
College of Agriculture, Vellayani.
Seven lines of bajra, viz., APFB-2, Composite 9, DRSB-3, FD 1917,
HES-4, IP 15814 and TNSC-4 and three testers of napier grass, FD 431,
FD 467 and FD 471 were crossed in a line x tester mating design to obtain
21 cross combinations. The hybrids were evaluated along with their
parents for mean performance, combining ability, heterosis and gene
action for eleven yield and yield related characters. Significant differences
among treatments were observed for all the characters. Also significant
differences among parents and crosses were observed for these characters
and their general and specific combining ability variances and effects were
studied. The magnitude of SCA variances alone was significant
suggesting the predominance of non-additive gene action in controlling
these traits.
Based on mean performance and gea effects, HES-4 was identified
as the best general combiner among lines followed by TNSC-4. Among
testers, FD 467 can be selected as the best male parent followed by FD
471. The crosses, TNSC-4 x FD 471 and HES-4 x FD 467 were the
promising combinations for green fodder yield and its component traits,
based on mean performance, sea effects and standard heterosis. Hence
these crosses can be exploited for developing high yielding hybrids.
