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Background: To develop a new high yielding variety, it is important to generate utilitarian recombinants and devise an appropriate strategy for selection and advancement of those recombinants. Methods: Keeping this in mind, genetic components of yield and its related traits were determined in nine genotypes of blackgram through half diallel analysis using Hayman’s numerical and graphical approach. Conclusion: The estimates of genetic components deduced the role of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of all traits. The Vr-Wr graphical analysis revealed that assumptions laid by Hayman for diallel analysis were seldom fulfilled. Epistatic effect was predominant in all traits except days to 75 per cent maturity. Unidirectional dominance was observed in days to 75 per cent maturity, pods per plants and seed yield per plant and crude protein content. One major gene group was found controlling all traits except days to 75 per cent maturity and branches per plant. These findings can be used by breeders to devise appropriate selection methodology for yield improvement in blackgram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out in blackgram using line x tester mating design to estimate the gca effect of parents (six lines and five testers) and sca effect of 30 hybrids for yield and its traits. Estimates of gca and sca variances, degree of dominance, predictability ratio and narrow sense heritability revealed that only three trais viz, pods per plant, seeds per pod and single plant yield were controlled by additive gene action and hence showed high narrow sense heritability. Magnitude of non-additive gene action was higher than the additive gene action for traits like plant height, days to 50% flowering, cluster per plant, 100 seed weight, days to maturity, branches per plant and pod length. Three parents 'MDU1, ADT3 and LBG-752 were the best combiners and three crosses 'MDU 1 x VBN (Bg) 6, LBG-752 x VBN (Bg) 6, LBG-752 x Mash-114 showed high per se performance and significant positive sca for yield. For exploiting both additive and nonadditive gene action recurrent selection to be followed to improve yield in blackgram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]