Combining Ability and Heterosis in White Jute

From an eight parent diallel cross in ‘white’ jute, the combining ability analysis showed that significant gca and sea effects were present for plant height and fibre yield, while only significant sea effect was present for base diameter indicating the importance of non-additive gene action. Considering togther gca effects for three characters, it appeared that JCR-321 and JRC-7447 were the best general combiners followed by BuT1 and BuS19. It was observed that the best general combiners were also best specific combiners. The degree and direction of heterosis varied greatly for different characters and crosses. In general, a positive relationship was observed between sea effects and estimates of heterosis. In almost all cases only the best specific combiners exhibited superiority over their best parents.