Aim: The current experiment was conducted to know the genetic architecture of 12 physio-morphological traits under sodic soil through Line × Tester analysis. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications adopting a recommended spacing of 20 x 15 cm in the field. Recommended package of practices was followed to establish the crop. Place and Duration of Study: Present investigation was conducted at Farmer Field of village Amwa Bhaluhi of Bhathat Block District: Gorakhpur, India. Methodology: The hybrids along with parental lines and checks were evaluated through Line × Tester analysis. Lines were used as female while testers were used as male parents where the climate is semi-arid with hot summer and cold winter (sub-tropical) and the soil of experimental field was sodic [ECe = 2.21 (dSm-1 ); pH =9.2]. The water used for irrigating the experimental field was taken from the bore well with pH 9.00 and RSC is 10 meq/L. Results: An outset on perusal of data for hybrids based on the cross combinations Jhona x Pusa 169 resulted from crossing between parents having high genetic distance showed high positive significant standard heterosis for seed yield. However, the crosses viz., Shriram 434 x PB 1, Halchal x IR 24, Magic x Pusa 169 and Super Moti x Pusa 169, gives sparingly high significant negative standard heterosis for seed yield although their parents having high genetic distance. Conclusion: These cross combinations merit consideration for extensive testing across space and time in the target environment to verify their suitability for commercial exploitation. The reason for this could have been the linkage of alleles in repulsive phase for biomass and yield. As there was dominance gene action involved, inter se matings followed by recombination breeding might be advocated for the improvement of yield under sodicity. The cross combinations Jhona x Pusa 169 emerged as lines to be recommended for exploitation in hybridization programme to enhance the production and productivity of sodic soil.

Information on combining ability is derived from data on twelve yield and yield contributing characters in fifteen male and three female parents utilised in line x tester fashion to estimate combining ability of rice genotypes under coastal saline condition. Forty Five hybrids generated from crossing three lines with fifteen testers were studied along with their parents for combining ability and gene action involved in the expression of characters in rice. The gca and sca effects were significant for all the characters. The magnitude of sca variance was higher than the gca variance for all the characters revealed the presence of predominance of non-additive gene action for all the characters under study. Halchal (-12.29) was found to be good general combiners for days to 50% flowering and early maturity, Halchal (-13.39). However, IR-24 (1.88) was good general combiners with significant positive effect for tallness. Magic (-12.05) good general combiners for dwarfness and Shriram 434 (1.57) was good general combiners for test weight however, Moti was best general combiner with gca estimates of 7.07 for harvest index and Kuber (3.48) was the good general combiners for yield/hill. Cross combinations RHR 27 x IR 24 (4.04) was significant and positive effect for yield/hill, performance for ear bearing tillers per plant were RHR 27 x IR 24 (1.88). In general, the crosses showing significant and desirable combining ability effects were associated with better per se performance for the respective traits. These hybrids could be utilized in heterosis breeding to exploit hybrid vigour.