Line × tester analysis in rapeseed: Identification of superior parents and combinations for seed yield and its components

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to investigate the genetic structure of the 20 F1s rapeseed hybrids established from five female moderate maturing lines and four early maturing male testers, determine parents showing general combining ability (GCA) and assess crosses demonstrating specific combining ability (SCA). Significant mean squares of lines and testers determined GCA and confirmed the presence of additive genes that were influencing the traits, while the significance of line×tester interactions indicated the importance of SCA of parents and demonstrated the importance of dominance or non-additive genetic effects. Significant variance of parents vs. crosses revealed significant average heterosis for all the traits except first pod height and seeds per pod. High narrow-sense heritability estimates for number of branches and pod length indicated the importance of additive genetic effects for these traits. Significantly positive correlation was exhibited between GCA effects on pods on main raceme and seed yield and, therefore, the GCA effect on pods on main raceme can be used as indirect selection criterion for improvement of seed yield. The crosses L41×Foma2, Zafar×R42 and L22B×R38 recorded significant positive SCA effects and high mean values of seed yield of 3400, 3311.3 and 2904.2 kg ha-1, respectively.