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General Combining Ability and Its Interaction with Environments in a 7 x 7 Diallel Cross Population of Alfalfa¹

The relative importance of general combining ability (CCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) in the year of establishment and in the following year were studied for forage yield, plant height, days to flower, growth habit, vigor, and frost tolerance in a diallel cross population of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). For both years CCA was more important than SCA for most of the characters. The ratio of CCA to SCA was generally greater for plants in their second year. There were marked differences in the CCA effects of the seven clones. Clones selected from adapted cultivars produced progenies that performed relatively well; those selected from unadapted cultivars gave progenies that were found to be generally inferior in forage yield, vigor, and frost tolerance. Both days to flower and vigor showed appreciable genotype x environment interaction.

Key Words: Alfalfa hybrids • Specific combining ability • Genotype x environment interaction • Forage yield • Medicago sativa L.

² Graduate student and Professor, Plant Science Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Received for publication November 28, 1973.