Genetical investigations in china aster

Abstract

Studies were carried out to evaluate 12 parents on the basis of combining ability and to analyse genetic basis of inheritance of 14 quantitative characters in 12x12 diallel set of crosses in two conditions, namely, field and pot culture. Inheritance of important quantitative characters like flower colour, flower doubleness, flower type and plant type was also studied. Diallel analysis revealed involvement of both additive and non-additive gene actions in the inheritance of 14 quantitative characters under both conditions. However, additive gene action played predominant role in the inheritance of number of ray florets per flower head and flower size, while the remaining 12 characters, viz., plant height, number of main branches per plant, number of laterals per plant, plant spread, stem girth, area per leaf, days to flower, number of flowers per plant, stalk length, flower weight, duration of flowering and cut flower life were found to be governed mainly by non-additive gene action under both conditions. Dominance and epistasis of complementary type played significant role in the inheritance of all characters which were reflected in terms of better parent heterosis for almost all characters under both conditions. As regards inheritance of quantitative characters, violet colour was found to be dominant all colours, deep pink over pink and pure white and pink over light pink and pure white. Deep pink was incompletely dominant over light pink. Four independent genes, A, B R and P were found to govern different flower colours. Gene B had ane dominant allele B. Doubleness (DD) was observed to be monogenically dominant over singleness (dd). Pompon type of flower was dominant over Chrysanthemum and Fluffy types. Chrysanthemum type was dominant over Fluffy type. Three independent genes Tu, D and C governed these three flower types. Dropping plant type (Dp Dp) was found to be incompletely dominant over erect plant type (dp dp).