Gene action for yield and yield contributing traits in blackgram through generation mean analysis

Generation mean analysis was worked out for three crosses of blackgram viz., VBN(Bg) 4 x CO 5, VBN(Bg) 4 x APK 1 and VBN(Bg) 4 x Mash 1008. Five parameter model was utilized in this study to identify the gene actions of various yield and yield contributing traits. Most of the traits recorded the presence of epistasis gene action. The traits viz., pod length, the number of seeds per pod recorded additive-dominance model in the cross VBN(Bg) 4 x APK 1. Significant additive–dominance model for 100-seed weight recorded in the cross VBN(Bg) 4 x CO 5. Hence, these traits can be improved through pedigree breeding and simple selection. Significant additive or additive x additive gene action was observed for days to flowering, plant height, the number of pods per cluster and 100-seed weight in all crosses. The selection needs to be delayed due to the presence of additive or additive x additive gene action with an epistatic model. Other traits had differential gene action in each cross. Based on the results, it can be concluded that an appropriate selection programme needs to be followed for each cross based on the gene action.