A diallel study was carried out over two diverse environments in rice during 2011-12 by generating 36 F1s using 9 parents. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes together with significant G x E interaction for most of the characters studied. Estimates of and revealed that, the latter component of variance was greater in magnitude for most of traits for pooled data over environments and similarly magnitude of was observed higher than their corresponding , thereby showing greater importance of non-additive gene action. Significant and positive estimates of gca over pooled data for grain yield plant-1 identified the parents namely, SKAU-389, Jhelum, SKAU-382, and SR-1 as promising. Likewise 15 potential hybrid combinations for grain yield plant-1were observed on the basis of high and significant SCA effects at pooled level. The cross combinations viz., Jhelum x K-08-60, SKAU-389 x K-08-60, SR-1 x K-08-60, K-08-59 x PS-5 and China-988 x SR-1 proved as prospective combinations for grain yield plant-1 and other desirable characters

Keywords: combining ability, diallel, gene action, G x E interaction, temperate ecology