Components of genetic variation of salt tolerance in pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)

Abstract

Two salt tolerant lines of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) ICPL 151 and ICPL 850014, and two salt sensitive lines Local 1 and Local 2 were crossed in all possible combinations following a diallel model. The 12 F₁ hybrids and their 4 parental lines were grown in 50 mol m⁻³ NaCl till maturity. The diallel analysis of the seed yield data showed that additive effect was highly significant, whereas both dominance and epistasignifics effect were non‐significant. The high value of additive effect shows that a significant improvement of salt tolerance in pigeon pea is possible through mass selection and breeding.

Keywords:

• Salt tolerance
• pigeon pea