Abstract
Estimates of genetic parameters of and combining ability of pod yield and five yield-influencing traits (days to flower, pod length, pod width, 100 seed weight, pod number plant-1 and pod yield plant-1) from the F1 of a 8 × 8 half-diallel cross involving seven varieties if Lablab niger Medik. (K6802, JDL 79, JDL 53, JDL 73, JDL 17, H.D. 18 and Local) and one (Hebbal) of Dolichos uniflorus Lam. revealed that the additive genetic variance was important for days to flower, pod length and width and 100 seed weight, whereas the non-additive genetic variance was important for pod number and pod width and 100 seed weight indicated the prospect of improving these characters through selection. H. D. 18 was a good general combiner; JDL 79 × H.D. 18 and JDL 53 × Hebbal were the good specific combiners in desirable directions for improvement of yield and most of its component characters. It is suggested that biparental mating between the selected recombinants and recurrents selection may prove most effective with a view to exploring the additive and dominance component of variation.
