Genetic Dissection of Yield and Quality Traits through Line × Tester Analysis in Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense)
Archana Upadhyay
Department of Vegetable Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
D. P. Singh
Department of Vegetable Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rajiv
Department of Vegetable Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Shweta
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sanjeev Sharma
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Jaswant Prajapati
*
Department of Vegetable Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Combining ability and gene action for yield, yield components and quality traits were investigated in garden pea (Pisum sativum L. var. hortense) using a Line × Tester design involving 10 lines, three testers and 30 F₁ hybrids, with their corresponding F₂ generations. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant effects of hybrids, lines, testers and line × tester interactions for all traits, indicating substantial parental and cross-specific variation. General combining ability (GCA) analysis identified Sel 2021-1, PS-1100, Maxima 3636 and Sel 2021-2 as promising parental sources for multiple yield and quality traits, while GS-10 and AP-3 were the most useful testers for broad trait improvement. Sel 2021-1 exhibited the highest positive GCA for pod yield per hectare, whereas Kashi Tripti was the strongest combiner for pod weight per plant. Specific combining ability (SCA) effects identified Sel 2021-1 × AP-3 as a promising cross for number of pods per plant (0.978), pod length (1.158) and pod yield per hectare (13.164). KS-282 × C18-3 showed favourable SCA for weight of 20 pods (9.586), single pod weight (0.478) and pod yield (10.501), while KS-102 × GS-10 was superior for seeds per pod (2.536) and early pod picking (−7.712). Maxima 3636 × AP-3 exhibited the highest positive SCA for total protein (0.133) and total sugar (0.120). Variance components and predictability ratios indicated substantial non-additive effects for major pod-weight and yield traits, whereas additive effects predominated for TSS, protein and sugar contents. The findings demonstrate considerable scope for exploiting both parental selection and specific cross combinations in garden pea improvement.
Keywords: Garden pea, Pisum sativum L. var. hortense, combining ability, Line × Tester analysis, general combining ability, specific combining ability, gene action, pod yield, quality traits, additive effects, non-additive effects