Genetic analysis of seed yield and its components in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) under late sown conditions in the north central plateau zone of Odisha in India

Five lines, three testers and their 15 F1s were grown under late sown conditions. The line × tester analysis of Kempthorne (1957) was employed to estimate additive genetic variance (σ2A), dominance genetic variance (σ2D), degree of dominance ([σ2D/σ2A]1/2), heritability in narrow sense (H(ns)) and standard heterosis (diii) over standard variety ‘Padmini’ for plant height (cm), number of primary branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule,1000-seed weight (g) and seed yield per plant (g). All the characters were controlled by a preponderance of non-additive gene action. Low estimates of H(ns) were observed for all the characters except number of primary branches per plant and number of seeds per capsule which had negative heritability. OL 1-3×Kiran, OL 2-3×Padmini, OL 18-4×Padmini and OL 22-1×Padmini had significantly high diii for number of capsules per plant and low diii for 1000-seed weight as well as high diii for seed yield per plant. The hybrids having significant positive standard heterosis (diii) can be effectively used for isolating transgressive segregants which will increase the frequency of desirable genes for seed yield component traits