Genetic analysis of yield and its contributing characters in lentil [Lens culinaris]

A field experiment was conducted to study the probable gene action involved in the inheritance of yield and its contributing traits in lentil using a diallel cross analysis. Five elite varieties of lentil (Jhansi local, K-75, Precoz selection, Sehore-74-3, and Lens-4076) with diverse genetic backgrounds were used as parents. Ten F1 plants and their five parents were planted in randomized complete block, parents were planted in randomized complete block design with four replications during the 1985/86 winter season. Both D (variance due to additive effects of genes) and H1 (variance due to dominance effects of genes) components were significant for time to flowering, plant height, and time to maturity (d). The magnitude of D was greater than H1 and more pronounced for the expression of these traits. The component H1 was significant and greater than D in magnitude for number of primary and secondary branches/plant, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/plant, number of seeds/pod, biological yield, 100-seed weight, and harvest index. The degree of dominance ranged from partial dominance for days to flowering, plant height, and time to maturity (d) to overdominance for number of primary branches/plant, and number of seeds/pod. Symmetrical distribution for positive and negative effects of genes was observed for number of primary and secondary branches/plant, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/plant, seed yield, and 100-seed weight. Positive and negative effects of genes in the parents for days to flowering, plant height, time to maturity (d), number of seeds/pod, biological yield, and harvest index were distributed asymmetrically. Dominant genes outnumbered the recessive genes in the parents for days to flowering, number of primary branches/plant, plant height, time to maturity (d), number of seeds/pod, and harvest index. There were more recessive genes than dominant ones in the parents with respect to number of secondary branches/plant, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/plant, biological yield, seeds yield, and 100-seeds weight