Assessment of gene action and combining ability for advancement of yield andits attributing traits in pansy (Viola × wittrockiana Gams.) through diallel mating design

Abstract

Pansy is one of the most important bedding winter annual for sub-tropical climatic conditions. Twenty-eight F₁ hybrids of pansy were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications, to study the combining ability for vegetative and floral characters. The analysis of variance indicated significant variability among all the genotypes for all the characters. The ratio of genetic component of variance indicated the equal importance of additive and non-additive gene action in governing the flower yield and its component traits of pansy. Estimates of general combining ability effects showed that parents Pa-64-1-5-14, Pa-62-4-12-18, Pa-63-1-7-25 and Pa-32-8-7-6 were good general combiners for most of the traits except stalk length and flower size. The specific combining ability effects showed that for yield traits the best cross combinations were Pa-64-1-5-14 × Pa-62-4-12-18, Pa-13-1-2-3 × Pa-47-1-3, Pa-11-1-3-7 × Pa- 62-4-12-18, Pa-64-1-5-14 × Pa-63-1-7-25 and Pa-11-1-3-7 × Pa-64-1-5-14. The study on gene effect of different characters indicated the predominance of non-additive gene effects for most of the characters. The gca variances was higher for branches number, flower size, days from bud initiation to flowering and flowers number than sca variances, indicating additive gene action, and progeny selection will be effective for the genetic improvement of these traits.