Heterosis and combining ability in a half-diallel cross of Sesbania pachycarpa DC.

Ten ecotypes of Sesbania pachycarpa DC. were crossed in a half-diallel mating scheme, and the parents and Fl's were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. These ecotypes were examined for diameter of the principal stem, branch number per plant, pod number per plant and 100 seeds weight. All traits studied except the 100 seeds weight showed highly significant heterosis over mid-parent values. The general combining ability was highly significant for all traits studied, while the specific combining ability was highly significant for the 100 seeds weight and was just significant for pod number per plant. Hence, additive genetic Variation was shown to be important in determining these traits.