Unraveling heterosis and combining ability for enhancing yield and its component traits in cabbage

Abstract

The present study explores heterosis, combining ability, gene action and proportional contribution of lines, testers and their interactions for yield and its contributing traits in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata). Evaluating 30 F1 populations, 11 parents (6 CMS lines and 5 DH testers) and a standard check (Pusa Cabbage Hybrid-81) in RCBD during winter 2018, the results revealed that KTCB-836A, KTCB-50-1 and cross, KTCB-1A × KTCB-50-1 found superior for yield and its component traits based on GCA and SCA estimates respectively. Further, KTCB-836A × KTCB-51-19, KTCB-836A × KTCB-51-2, KTCB-836A × KTCB-50-3 and KTCB-836A × KTCB-51-6 identified as superior hybrids for yield per hectare based on estimates of standard heterosis and heterobeltiosis. The gene action studies indicated that non-additive gene action predominantly controls most quantitative traits, as the dominant variance (σ2D) was more than the additive variance (σ2A) and the variance ratio was less than one for most of the quantitative traits. While higher contribution of line × tester interactions also highlighted the effective role of testers. Heterosis breeding can thus be commercially exploited to develop superior cabbage hybrids.