Genetic analysis for fodder yield and other important traits in oats (Avena sativa L.)

The parents and 45 F1 crosses (excluding reciprocals) of forage oats (Avena sativa L.) were analyzed genetically to generate information on combining ability (general and specific), nature and magnitude of gene effects for forage yield and their attributing traits. The estimates of dominance variance were higher in magnitude than their corresponding additive genetic variance indicating preponderance of non-additive gene action except for days to 50% flowering. None of the parents was found to be a good general combiner simultaneously for all traits. However, SKO-208 was identified as a good general combiner for most of the traits.The most promising crosses that revealed highly positive and significant SCA effect for forage yield were SKO212, SKO213, SKO204 x SKO208, SKO204 x SKO211, SKO210 x SKO211 and SKO207 x SKO210.