Combining Ability in African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

A line x tester crossing programme was done using male sterile lines and a set of 11 genetically diverse pollinators as testers. F₁'s along with parents were evaluated during winter and summer seasons. During the seasons, for plant height and flower size, additive gene action was higher compared to non-additive gene action, while for flowering days and stalk length, non-additive and non-additive gene actions played important role during both the seasons, indicating the usefulness of hybrids in marigold cultivation. Similarly, for flower number during winter and for plant spread during summer, both additive and non-additive gene action played significant role. For other traits, gene action was inconsistent during different seasons.