STUDIES ON GENE ACTION AND COMBINING ABILITY ANALYSIS IN BASMATI RICE

Thirty-six hybrids generated from crossing three lines with twelve testers were studied along with parents for combining ability and gene action in basmati rice. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant for all the characters, indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive genetic components. But it is found that there was predominance of non-additive genetic components for expression of different traits in the present set of materials. Amongst the male parental lines, Taraori Basmati, Pusa 2503-693-1, Pusa 1235-95-73-1 and Pusa 2512-97-83-98-4 were best general combiners for grain yield along with other traits. The female cms line IR 68281A was best general combiner for grain yield along with other traits. The most promising specific combiners for grain yield and other traits were IR 68281A x UPRI 93-63-2, Pusa 3A x Taraori Basmati, Pusa 3A x UPR 2268-4-1, IR 58025A x Pusa 2511-97-107, IR 68281A x UPR 1840-31-1-1 and IR 58025A x RP 3135-17-12-88. Hence, the present study was carried out to obtain information on combining ability and gene action involved in expressing the different characters in basmati rice.