The present study aimed to estimate the general and specific combining ability variances and their effects, and extent of heterobeltiosis and economic heterosis for different quantitative characters in yellow sarson. Line × Tester analysis including 11 local germplasm lines and four testers illustrated the preponderance sca over gca for all the traits studied. Based on desirable GCA effects, PYSC-11-3, PYSC-11-36, PYSC-11-44 and PYSC-11-46 among lines and B-9 among testers were identified as promising donars for seed yield. High GCA for seed yield was associated with high seeds per siliqua, siliqaua density, siliqua on main raceme, primary branches per plant and plant height. The parental lines PYSC-13-1, PYSC-12-1 and B-9 emerged as promising donor for oil content. B-9 was only parent possessing high GCA parent for seed yield as well as oil content conjugated with key component traits. Based on desirable SCA effects and high heterotic response for seed yield, PYSC-11-46 × B-9, PYSC-11-44 × PPS-1 and PYSC-11- 36 × YSH-401 for seed yield and PYSC-12-1 × B-9 and PYSC-12-1×PPS-1 for oil content were marked as most promising crosses and recommended for further exploitation in the breeding programme. The above findings gesture towards the use of heterosis breeding as the key method for exploiting the available genetic variability in the pool of material studied. | Combining ability and heterosis analysis for yield and contributing traits in local germplasm of yellow sarson (Brassica rapa var. Yellow Sarson Prain)
