COMBINING ABILITY FOR MATURITY AND PLANT HEIGHT IN BRASSICA RAPA (L.) SSP DICHOTOMA (ROXB.) HANELT

A 5 x 5 F-1 diallel cross hybrids of Brassica rapa (L) ssp. dichotoma (Roxb.) Hanelt along with parents were evaluated through combining ability for days to flowering (initiation and completion), days to maturity and plant height. Highly significant differences were recorded for all the traits. Mean squares due to general, specific and reciprocal combining ability were significant for all the traits except plant height for which the latter two components were non-significant. Prevalence of additive (plant height), non-additive (days to flowering completion; days to maturity) and reciprocal effects (days to flowering initiation) were detected. Parental line G-403 was best general combiner for all the traits. The F-1 hybrids G-902 x G-265 (days to flowering initiation), G-902 x G-403 (days to flowering completion), G-265 x G-1500 (days to maturity) and G-909 x G-265 (plant height) were superior and may be exploited for future breeding programs.