Vol. 11, Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Mohurle NA, Patil AN, Meshram MP, Uikey KN and Karvar SH

Abstract:
Exploitation of heterosis through the cultivation of hybrid cultivars is one of the landmark achievements of plant breeding. Heterosis breeding has been extensively used for improving yield potential in most of the crops through development of hybrids. Hence, an attempt was made in this study to assess 90 F₁ hybrids derived by crossing 6 lines with 15 genotypes of pigeonpea to identify the best heterotic combinations to achieve a quantum jump in yield. The results showed that a wide range of variation in the estimates of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis in positive and negative direction was observed for seed yield per plant as well as remaining eleven traits. In case of seed yield per plant, heterobeltiosis ranged from -48.03 to 231.59 and standard heterosis varied from -64.93 to 286.72. The cross BSMR 736 X WRG 303 showed highest mean performance (241.01g) for seed yield per plant and it also exhibit 143.94%, 159.88% and 286.72% heterosis over better parent, standard check PKV-TARA and standard check AKT-8811, respectively. The crosses viz., BDN 711 x BAUPP 15-22, AKT 8811 x BAUPP 15-22, PKV TARA x ICPL 87, BDN 711 x CRG 2015-007, BDN 711 x BSMR 853, BSMR 736 x WRG 303 and AKT 8811 x NPMK 15-05 showing high mean performance and significant heterosis for seed yield per plant and its important components. These crosses could be utilized for their large-scale testing and general adaptability.