Revealing Gene Action of Different Root Pigments in Tropical Carrot ( Daucus carota )

High cross pollination in carrot aided to the genetic variability among the population, thus giving an ample scope to understand the genetics of breeding lines. In this view, the six-generation analysis of carrot population was carried out, and the root length (23.25–33.30 cm), the root weight (175.60–292.50 g), the root-to-top ratio (4.94–17.47%), shoulder diameter (37.99–62.72 mm), root diameter (34.78–59.51 mm), core diameter (4.51–8.88 mm) and flesh thickness (34.18–55.67 mm) showed the maximum variability among the population. The gene interaction and effects of the best fit model on generation means for economic traits in three different crosses of tropical carrot indicated the existence of additive [ d ], dominance [ h ], additive × additive [ i ], additive × dominance [ j ] and dominance × dominance [ l ]. The nature and magnitude of fixable and non-fixable gene effects on inheritance of root traits revealed complimentary non-epistatic gene interactions; thus, exploitation of hybrid vigour could be employed for root traits by heterosis breeding.