Combining Ability Analysis in Vegetable Cowpea

Abstract

Twenty-one hybrids produced by diallel mating without reciprocals along with seven parents were evaluated for combining ability analysis in vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). Preponderance of additive type of gene action was observed for all the characters. The best genotype on the basis of general combining ability (gca) effects and per se performance for pod yield and its contributing characters was Punjab-263 followed by Arka Garima. Similarly, the best hybrid on the basis of specific combining ability (sca) effect and per se performance for pod yield was Punjab-263 × Arka Garima, followed by Punjab-263 × Gujarat-1 and GC-82-7 × Arka Garima. Hence, emphasis should be concentrated to isolate desired segregants from these hybrids through the pedigree method.