Genetic combining ability of coriander genotypes for agronomic and phytochemical traits in response to contrasting irrigation regimes

Knowledge of genetic combining ability and gene action would help breeders to choose suitable parents and devise an appropriate breeding strategy for coriander. In the present study, six diverse genotypes of coriander, their 15 F(1)s and 15 F(2)s were evaluated through randomized complete block design with three replications to study genetic combining ability for agronomic and phytochemical traits in coriander. Plants were subjected to well-watered (WW), mild water-deficit stress (MWDS) and severe water-deficit stress (SWDS) irrigation regimes. The results indicate that water-deficit stress decreased all of the measured traits in both the F(1) and F(2) generations. General combining ability and specific combining ability effects were highly significant for all of the traits in both the F(1) and F(2) generations. Additive gene action was predominant for phonology and fruit yield component traits in all irrigation regimes in both the F(1) and F(2) generations. For fatty acid content and total lipid yield, non-additive gene action was predominant in the F(1) generation while additive gene action was predominant in the F(2) generation under MWDS and SWDS conditions. The P(4) parent had the highest general combining ability for fruit yield components in both the F(1) and F(2) generations. The P(6) parent had the highest general combining ability for phenological and phytochemical traits. The P(4) and P(6) parents are promising material to develop early flowering and early maturing genotypes coupled with high total lipids in advanced generations of segregation.