Combining ability analysis and association of yield and yield components among selected cowpea lines

The study was carried out to determine combining ability and association of yield and yield components among crosses derived from seven selected cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) parents. Twenty-one hybrids were generated from diallel crosses excluding reciprocals. Hybrids along with seven parents were studied for combining ability and phenotypic correlations for seed yield and eight yield components. The result indicated that the general combining ability (gca) and specific combining ability (sca) were significant for most characters indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive genetic components. Additive gene action was important for eight characters except pod number, whereas non-additive gene action was not important for nodule number and grain yield. Parental lines IT86D-716 and IT81D-985 were found to be good general combiners for grain yield and other traits. The most promising specific combiners for yield and yield components were from crosses including IT87D-697-2 × IT86D-716, IT88D-867-11 × IT86D-716, IT93K-624 × IT87D-697-2, and IT87D-697-2 × IT92KD-405-1. Significant positive phenotypic correlations were observed between seed yield with pod length (POL), number of pods per plant (PON), and number of seeds per pod (SPD). POL, pod number per plant, SPD, and grain yield were identified as the best selection criteria that could be used in cowpea breeding programs.     

Combining ability estimates for yield and fibre quality traits in 4 × 13 line × tester crosses of Gossypium hirsutum

The aim of this study was to estimate the general combining ability of the parents and specific combining ability of hybrids considered for the development of high yielding and better quality cultivars. Seventeen genotypes and 52 F₁ hybrids obtained by crossing 4 lines and 13 testers in line × tester mating system during 2003 were sown in randomized complete block design in 2004. Line × Tester analysis revealed significant GCA and SCA effects for all the traits except fibre elongation. Preponderance of non-additive gene action was obtained for seed cotton yield per␣plant and majority of its component traits including fibre traits. Among the parents: PIL-8 for days to 50% flowering, CCH-526612 for boll weight, CITH-77 for number of open bolls per plant and CNH-36 for seed cotton yield per plant were detected with higher general combining ability. Parent, CCH-526612 for 2.5% span length, fibre strength and fibre elongation and AKH-9618 for micronaire value, fibre strength and fibre elongation were good combiners for fibre quality traits. The F₁s achieved high seed cotton yield by producing more number of open bolls. The high yielding hybrids with acceptable fibre quality traits were: CISV-24 × LH-1995, H-1242 × PIL-8 and RS-2283 × SGNR-2 deducted with significant SCA effects for seed cotton yield and fibre characteristics; 2.5% span length and fibre strength. These cross combinations involved at least one parent with high or average GCA effect for a particular trait.     

Genetic combining ability estimates in the F<Subscript>1</Subscript> and F<Subscript>2</Subscript> generations for yield,its component traits and alkaloid content in opium poppy (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Papaver somniferum</Emphasis> L.)

The F ₁ and F ₂ generations of a twenty parent fractional diallel cross of opium poppy (P. somniferum L.) were analyzed for combining ability for ten quantitative and five quality (alkaloids) traits. The results indicated significant differences among the parents for combining ability for all the traits. The GCA and SCA components of variances were significant for all the characters. However, the SCA component of variance (δ ²s) was predominant indicating the preponderance of non-additive gene effect for all the traits except for leaves/plant and papaverine in F₁ hybrids. The average degree of dominance (δ ²s/δ ²g) was more than unity indicating over dominance and also confirming non-additive mode of gene action. Among the parents IS-16, IS-13 and NBRI-1 for early flowering, BR226 and BR241 for branches/plant, capsule weight/plant, seed yield/plant and husk yield/plant, BR227 for leaves/plant, UO1285 for capsule size and opium yield/plant, NBRI-5 for husk yield/plant, morphine, codeine, and thebaine and ‘Papline’ for plant height and papaverine content were found good general combiners. Parent ND1001 was good combiner for codeine and narcotine content. Inclusion of good general combiners in a multiple crossing program or an intermating population involving all the possible crosses among them subjected to bi-parental mating may be expected to offer maximum promise in breeding for higher opium, seed yield and alkaloid contents.     

Genetics of androgenesis in winter and spring wheat genotypes

Androgenetic response and its inheritance was studied in nine winter type and two spring type wheat genotypes by crossing them in line × tester fashion. The 18 F₁ and 11 parental genotypes were raised in completely randomized block design with three replications and subjected to anther culture. Data were recorded with respect to per cent calli induction, percent regeneration and per cent green plant development. Analysis of variance revealed considerable genetic variation for all the three component traits of androgenesis. Both additive and non-additive genetic variances were involved in the androgenetic response with the preponderance of non-additive gene action in case of calli induction and additive gene action for regeneration and green plant development. Low estimates of heritability (narrow sense) for calli induction and moderate for regeneration and green plantlet development were obtained. The genotypes, Henies VII, Pnfjoumee, Saptdhara, Sentry, Purthi of winter wheat and HPW147 of spring wheat were identified as good general combiners for almost all the androgenetic parameters and have potential use in future haploidy breeding programmes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Heterosis and combining ability analysis in Chinese semi-winter × exotic accessions of rapeseed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> L.)

Fourteen accessions (spring and winter types) and four testers (semi-winter type) of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) were crossed in line?×?tester mating design to estimate general and specific combining ability for seed yield, yield components, and oil content. The F₁ hybrids and their parents were evaluated in four environments in northern China. Highly significant differences were detected among the parents and hybrids for all the traits across environments. Plant height, setting position of first primary branch and length of terminal raceme were controlled by additive genes, whereas primary branches per plant, siliques on terminal raceme, siliques per plant, seeds per silique, seed yield per plant, 1000-seed weight, oil content, and seed yield were controlled by non-additive gene action. The accessions SP-Armada, 9E49, and CZ25 and the tester Zhong9 were good general combiners for seed yield. Among the 56 F₁ hybrids, four hybrids: Zhong9?×?CZ25, GZ1R?×?9E38, Zhong7?×?9E38, and Zhong7?×?CZ49 showed higher yield than the control and were the outstanding combinations for seed yield. These hybrids were recommended to be included in future breeding programs for development of new high yielding varieties with more desirable traits. Both winter and spring germplasm have potential in Chinese semi-winter rapeseed breeding program, for seed oil content improvement, more attention may be paid to spring germplasm.     

Genetic analysis of rapeseed self-incompatibility lines reveals significant heterosis of different patterns for yield and oil content traits

Self‐incompatibility is one of the most effective approaches to utilizing heterosis in oilseed rape around the world. To evaluate the heterosis of double low self‐incompatibility, the possibility of combining seed yield and oil content, and the genetic effects of parents on their hybrid progenies, a 2‐year field trial using a 3 × 22 NC II mating design was conducted during the 1999‐2001 growing seasons in Wuhan, China. Significant differences in seed yield per plant and seed oil content were observed among the F1 hybrids and between F1 progenies and their parents. However, the heterosis for seed yield per plant was much greater than that for seed oil content. Mid‐parent heterosis and high‐parent heterosis of seed yield per plant ranged from 5.50 to 64.11% and from –2.81 to 46.02%, while those of seed oil content ranged from –1.55 to 7.44% and –3.61 to 6.55%, respectively. Non‐additive genetic effects were a major mechanism that accounted for the yield heterosis in addition to additive effects. In contrast, seed oil content heterosis was mainly dependent on an additive genetic effect. General combining ability (GCA) determined the stability of hybrid cultivars. In hybrid breeding, parental materials might be selected by the sum of GCAs and variances of special combining abilities (SCAs) of female and male parents for traits affected by both additive and non‐additive effects, and by the sum of GCAs of two parents for traits controlled mainly by additive effects. Primary branches and their siliques were the most important yield traits.     

两个抗旱小麦资源主要农艺性状配合力和遗传力分析

本研究选用２个抗旱小麦和４个农艺亲本，按Ｇｒｉｆｉｎｇ双列杂交方法４配制１５个组合。对２个抗旱小麦Ｃ抗８和Ｃ抗９和１０个主要农艺性状的配合力和遗传进行了分析。结果表明：抗旱小麦Ｃ抗８在单株穗数、单株产量和收获指数等性状有高的一般配合力，且收获指数的特殊配合力方差最大。Ｃ抗９的每穗粒数、千粒重、单株产量和收获指数等几个性状的一般配合力效应值为负值，但其特殊配合力方差较高或中等。株高、千粒重、穗长、小     

Analysis of combining ability of two-types of male sterile and four restorer lines of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zinnia elegans</Emphasis>

Eight cross combinations of Zinnia elegans were made using two recessive nuclear male sterile lines crossed with four restorers using the North Carolina Design II statistical method. Heterosis, combining ability and heritability was analysed using 12 horticultural traits and these demonstrated the advantage of heterosis in hybrid breeding of Zinnia elegans. Heterosis served to increase the number of whorls of ray florets across capitulum and the number of branches, and also decreased plant height, crown size, pedicel length and length of node. Thus, six horticultural traits were improved over mid parent and best parent status to fulfill major breeding goals of this herbaceous flower. The traits of plant height, number of whorls of ray florets across capitulum and pedicel length were primarily controlled by paternal additive effects, whereas crown size was mainly controlled by non-additive effects. Number of branches and length of node were affected both by paternal additive effects and non-additive effects. The ratio of general combining ability to specific combining ability indicated the importance of additive genes in the expression of these traits. Among the parental lines, AH003A and restorer A3 were chosen as primary female and male combiners, respectively. AH001A and restorer S5 were chosen as secondary combiners. The cross AH003A × A3 was determined as the most promising combination for producing potted plant characteristics, and AH001A × S5 was the best hybrid obtained in this study for cut flower traits. The analysis of combining ability for the parental lines showed that there was no causal relationship between general combining ability and specific combining ability effects.     

Genetic combining ability for concentration of mineral elements in cabbage head (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica oleracea</Emphasis> var<Emphasis Type="Italic">. capitata</Emphasis> L.)

Brassica vegetables are important source of dietary nutrition. However, information on the genetic combining ability of mineral elements such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, potassium and calcium or their types of genetic effects (i.e. additive or non-additive) is scarce but important as it influences the selection of parents and breeding approaches to be adopted for improvement of nutritional quality of cabbage. Therefore, an attempt was made to estimate combining ability in a line × tester (5 × 11) mating design for minerals. Significant mean square for line × tester interaction was observed for all minerals under study indicating the prevalence of non-additive variance; while less than unity value of σ_gca² /σ_sca² ratio for iron, zinc, manganese, potassium and calcium accumulation indicate predominance of non-additive gene action. The parents 83-2, Pride of Asia, Pusa Mukta, Red Cabbage and MR-1 were found good general combiners for four mineral elements. The general combining ability effects of the parents for various minerals revealed that none of the parents excelled for all the minerals suggesting the need for multiple crossing approaches. The cross 83-1 × AC-1019 (Poor × Poor general combiner) exhibits desirable significant specific combining ability effects for all six minerals might be due to presence of high magnitude of non-additive especially complementary epistatic effects which can be utilize for commercial exploitation of heterosis. This study shows clearly that specific combining ability is more important than general combining ability for predicting hybrid combinations for high mineral content in cabbage head.     

印水型杂交粳稻产量及产量构成因素的配合力分析

为确定新育成印水型杂交粳稻亲本的潜力,并为印水型杂交粳稻育种提供理论基础,本研究以4个不育系和4 个恢复系为亲本进行不完全双列杂交,研究产量及其构成因素的配合力。结果表明：产量性状一般配合力(GCA)方差均达到极显著水平,除结实率外,父本的一般配合力方差大于母本,单株产量、有效穗和结实率的特殊配合力(SCA)方差达到显著或极显著水平。139A和晚轮422 的GCA效应较高,产量性状以Ⅱ类为主,139A×晚轮422 和辽粳10A×晚轮422 的单株产量水平及组合SCA效应较高。父本GCA效应和组合SCA效应对产量性状的影响较大,母本GCA效应对产量性状的影响相对较小。本研究中,父本的遗传差异大于母本,对产量性状的影响也大于母本,139A和晚轮422 有较大的应用潜力。     

Inheritance and general combining ability studies of detached pod, leaf disc and natural field resistance to Phytophthora palmivora and Phytophthora megakarya in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.)

Black pod is a major disease of cocoa. Knowledge of the inheritance of resistance to black pod would be important in devising strategies to breed resistant varieties. The mode of inheritance of resistance to black pod disease was investigated using leaf disc, detached pod tests and natural field observation in a 6?×?4 factorial and 6?×?6 diallel mating designs analyzed using North Carolina design-II approach and Griffing??s method II model I approach, respectively. The dominant component was smaller than the additive component for pod lesion size, leaf disc scores and natural field infection. Both general combining ability and specific combining ability (SCA) effects influenced the inheritance of pod lesion number and leaf disc scores suggesting that both additive and non-additive (dominance or epistatic) effects influence the inheritance of resistance to black pod disease. However, SCA effect was not significant for pod lesion size and natural field infection suggesting the importance of additive genes in the inheritance of these traits. The higher heritability of leaf disc scores, pod lesion numbers and pod lesion sizes than the heritability of natural field infection which was almost zero, shows the influence of environment on natural field infection and suggests that ranking of resistance of cocoa genotypes need to be done under controlled environmental conditions to observe true resistance levels. Good general combiners, in combination with each other, did not necessarily yield good specific combinations suggesting that parents?? performance cannot be used for selecting superior progenies. The non-significance of reciprocal effects indicates absence of maternal effects or cytoplasmic inheritance in resistance to black pod disease. Recurrent selection procedures and inter-crossing aimed at general combining ability would be more suitable for improvement of black pod disease resistance. Cocoa genotypes with good combining ability for resistance to black pod disease such as T60/887, Pa 150, Sca 6, and Pa7/808, identified in this study could be important parents to form base population for such recurrent selection procedures.     

陆地棉配合力与杂种优势、遗传距离的相关性分析

 用10个陆地棉亲本进行不完全双列杂交,共配置了45个组合,计算亲本的一般配合力（GCA）、特殊配合力(SCA)、杂种优势,并结合SSR标记研究了陆地棉亲本配合力与杂种优势、遗传距离之间的相关关系。配合力分析发现,10个亲本的一般配合力和特殊配合力存在显著或极显著差异。分析亲本配合力、杂种优势和遗传距离的相关性发现,子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的一般配合力和杂种优势呈显著或极显著相关,纤维长度、比强度、麦克隆值、株高、果枝数、单株铃数、铃重、子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的特殊配合力和杂种优势均呈极显著正相关,而与遗传距离相关均不显著。单株铃数、铃重、子棉产量、皮棉产量、衣分的杂种优势与遗传距离均为正向显著或极显著相关。在育种实践中这些显著或极显著相关的性状可能具有较高的改良潜力。     

Estimating gene action,combining ability and heterosis for grain yield and agronomic traits in extra-early maturing yellow maize single-crosses under three agro-ecologies of Ghana

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important cereal crop produced in Ghana. However, yield of the crop is generally low, producing just about 1.7 t/ha. The low yield is attributed to continuous use of local/unimproved varieties. Generally, hybrid varieties have proven to out-yield the local/unimproved varieties due to improved vigour. Development of hybrid varieties depend on good understanding of combining ability and inheritance of important quantitative traits such as grain yield (GY). 45 half-diallel crosses generated from 10 extra-early maturing yellow inbred lines were evaluated in 2015 under rain-fed conditions. The objectives were to determine the genetic control, breeding value and estimate heritability for GY and agronomic traits of the inbred lines under contrasting growing environments in Ghana. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were important in the inheritance of GY and agronomic traits of the inbred lines. However, GCA was more important than SCA across environments to suggest that additive gene action was more important than non-additive gene action in the inheritance of GY and agronomic traits in the inbred lines. High broad-sense heritability, for GY and other agronomic traits indicated preponderance of additive gene action in trait expression, thus, selection based on phenotypic expression could be feasible. Inbred lines P1, P4 and P8 were good combiners for high GY. The genotype, P4 × P8, was identified as the ideal and most yielding single-cross hybrid across research environments and should be further tested on-farm before commercialization.     

Combining ability analysis of earliness and yield of potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.) genotypes in Uganda

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a major food and cash crop mainly grown by small-scale farmers in the highland regions of Uganda. Changing global weather patterns require varieties that are able to grow within the short rainfall cycles and yield optimally under the prevailing conditions. The objectives of this study were to estimate the combining ability effects for early maturity, yield and yield related traits in potato. Eighteen F¹ families generated from two sets of 12 parents using a North Carolina Design II were evaluated for days to 50% flowering, leaf senescence, yield and yield related traits in two different locations. Both additive and non-additive genetic effects influenced the expression of traits. However, additive genetic effects were predominant over the non-additive for most of the traits. The GCA/SCA ratios were 0.68 and 0.78 for days to 50% flowering and average tuber weight. Broad sense heritability estimates were 0.70 for total tuber weight and 0.78 for days to 50% flowering. The predominance of additive genetic effects imply that, genetic gains can be achieved through different selection methods and traits transferred to the respective progenies. Parents Rwangume, 396,038.107, 395,011.2, NKRK19.17, 393,077.54, Kimuri, and 392,657.8 had desirable GCA effects for the number of days to flowering and yield related traits. Families of Rwangume?×?NKRK19.17, 393,077.54?×?395,011.2, 396,038.107?×?Rwangume and 396,038.107?×?395,011.2 had desirable SCA effects for yield and number of days to 50% flowering. The selected parents and families will be subjected to further clonal evaluation and selection.     

Combining ability and gene action controlling yield and yield components in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under drought‐stressed and nonstressed conditions

This study determined the combining ability and gene action controlling yield and yield‐related traits in wheat under drought‐stressed and nonstressed conditions. Twelve parents possessing Rht‐B1b and Rht‐D1a genes and their 66 half‐diallel crosses were evaluated under field and glasshouse conditions. Plant height (PH), productive tiller number (TN), kernels per spike (KPS), thousand seed weight (TSW) and grain yield (GY) were recorded. Analysis of variance, heritability, correlation and combining ability analyses were performed. Heritability estimates ranged from 53.00% (TN) to 63.07% (KPS). Yield showed positive correlations with all other traits under all test conditions. Significant GCA effects were observed for all traits recorded across test conditions, except for yield in the glasshouse. All Baker's ratios were less than a unit, indicating predominance of nonadditive gene action. Consistently high positive GCA effects were observed on LM02 for GY; LM02 and LM23 for KPS; and LM04 and LM09 for TSW, while LM17 and LM21 had negative effects for PH. Good general and specific combiners will be used for further breeding and selection.     

Winter × spring wheat hybridization - a promising avenue for yield enhancement

Introgression of the winter gene pool into spring wheat is being considered as one of the strategies to break through the yield plateau. However, little information is available on the combining ability of these two important but distinct groups of wheats in Indian conditions. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine the combining ability and gene action of yield and yield attributes in winter × spring wheat crosses. Seventy F₁ progenies developed by 14 winter and five spring wheat lines using a line × tester design were evaluated, along with their parents, for yield and yield attributes in a randomized complete block design under field conditions. The mean squares for all the characters studied showed highly significant differences. The mean squares due to female × male interactions were significant for all the characters studied except for grains per ear and grain weight per ear. Additive genetic effects were found to play a key role in controlling the expression of days to heading, plant height and spikelets per ear.‘MV 19’ and ‘Stepniak’/‘Karvuna’ among winter and ‘PBW 65’ among spring wheats were good general combiners for most of the yield attributes studied. The estimates for specific combining ability effects suggested that, although general combining ability (GCA) effects of most winter wheats are either average or poor, their combination can give desirable genotypes with spring wheat parents possessing a high GCA.     

矮秆超大穗小麦亲本与多抗丰产小麦主要农艺性状的配合力评价及遗传分析

为了进一步挖掘矮秆超大穗小麦亲本在遗传育种中的应用潜力,为小麦高产、超高产育种选择优良亲本和最优杂交组合提供理论依据,选用5个矮秆超大穗小麦品种（系）作为父本,8个多抗丰产小麦品种（系）作为母本,按NCII遗传交配设计,采用8×5不完全双列杂交法,配制了40个杂交组合,对小麦亲本及杂种F1的株高、主穗长、单株穗数、结实小穗数、主穗粒数、主穗产量、单株产量、千粒重8个性状进行了考察,并在基因型方差分析显著的基础上进行了配合力评价及遗传力分析。结果表明：父本中A1、A3、A4是综合性状优良的亲本,其多数性状的一般配合力均较高,特别是穗长、主穗粒数、结实小穗数、主穗产量、单株产量的一般配合力高,而株高的一般配合力效应值较低,是很理想的矮秆超大穗多粒亲本材料。母本中B5、B6单株穗数一般配合力较高,株高的一般配合力效应值较低,可作小麦高产杂交育种的矮秆多穗型亲本使用。结合特殊配合力效应分析：组合B5×A3单株穗数、主穗产量、单株产量、千粒重特殊配合力效应最高,株高特殊配合力效应较低,可作为的矮秆、多穗、粒重高且高产的重点杂交组合。B2×A4主穗长、单株产量、单株穗数特殊配合力效应都较高,而株高特殊配合力效应低,可作为矮秆大穗高产的重点杂交组合。遗传力分析表明：单株产量、千粒重、主穗长、主穗产量皆在70%以上,表明这4个性状的广义遗传力较大,受环境影响较小,而狭义遗传力的分析除主穗长、主穗粒数、主穗产量、株高大于50%,其余4个性状均低于50%,说明受环境影响大,不宜早期选择,应该适当推迟选择的代数。     

糯高粱新选不育系的配合力及遗传力分析

为了筛选出遗传力和配合力表现优良的糯高粱不育系亲本,提高杂交育种效率,为杂交糯高粱育种选择优良亲本和配置强优势组合提供参考。选用3个糯高粱新选不育系、3个恢复系,按不完全双列杂交法组配9个杂交组合,采用DPS数据处理软件对株高、穗长、穗粒重、生育期、千粒重、产量6个主要农艺性状进行配合力及遗传效应的分析。结果表明,不育系11476A2在株高、穗长和生育期的一般配合力均有较高的优势,相对效应值分别为2.5572、2.4284和0.6792;不育系11494A2的穗粒重和产量一般配合力最高,相对效应值为5.7165和4.8505。这些亲本系在育种和生产上具有很高的利用价值。加性方差与基因型方差的比值依次顺序为株高>穗粒重>千粒重>产量>穗长>生育期。从产量性状分析看,11476A2×L17可能是一个较理想的组合模式。     

11份玉米自交系单株产量等性状的配合力与遗传参数研究

旨在研究玉米自交系单株产量等性状的配合力、遗传力及反交效应,为玉米自交系的选育和杂交种的组配提供依据。以11份玉米自交系为试材,按Griffing Ⅲ完全双列杂交法组配110个组合,观测杂交种的单株产量、株高、穗位高、雄穗分支数、雄穗主轴长、抽丝期和开花期等7个性状的表型数据,并对上述性状的一般配合力、特殊配合力、广义遗传力、狭义遗传力和反交效应进行估算。供试材料除雄穗主轴长的特殊配合力差异不显著外,其余性状的一般配合力和特殊配合力差异均达到极显著水平。JZ3和JZ6两个自交系单株产量的一般配合力为极显著正值,两对组合JZ9×JZ2和JZ2×JZ9、JZ6×JZ3和JZ3×JZ6的单株产量具有最大的正向SCA效应值,分别为40.68 g和35.24 g。单株产量的反交效应差异极显著,部分自交系的反交效应方差较大。7个性状的广义遗传力从大到小依次为,雄穗分支数、株高、开花期、穗位高、抽丝期、单株产量和雄穗主轴长;狭义遗传力从大到小依次为,雄穗分支数、株高、穗位高、开花期、雄穗主轴长、抽丝期和单株产量。试验结果表明单株产量性状的显性遗传方差占比最大,狭义遗传力最小,易受环境条件的影响,对该性状的选择适宜在晚代进行;单株产量性状具有显著的反交效应,故部分自交系需严格控制正反交方式。     

Identification of superior parents and hybrids for improving canola production under optimum and late sowing conditions

Major advancement in canola breeding depends on heterotic hybrids that require high general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) inbred lines. In order to estimate heritability, gene action type, GCA, SCA and heterosis and to identify superior hybrids with wider adaptation to cold, one hundred canola hybrids were produced by crossing 10 lines and 10 testers in a Line?×?Tester mating design. The F₁ and F₂ generations were sown in α-lattice design in 2012 and 2013 growing seasons under optimum (early October) and late sowing (early November) conditions to be evaluated for days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, thousand seed weight, seed yield and leaf electrical conductivity. The combined analysis indicated sufficient genetic diversity in the population and significant difference between two sowing date. The Line?×?Tester analysis presented significant GCA and SCA effects for all studied traits across optimum and late sowing conditions. The main gene action type was found to be non-additive, especially incomplete dominance and over-dominance in both conditions. Narrow-sense heritability ranged from low to moderate whereas broad-sense heritability was recorded more than 60% for all of the studied traits in both generations and conditions. The average heterosis in F₂ population for all studied traits was lower than that in F₁ representing this fact that heterosis is generally related to the heterozygosity at the population level and poorly correlated with heterozygosity at the individual level.