Vol. 10, Issue 7 (2021)

Author(s):
Sonu Get, SS Shekhawat, DK Gothwal, Jogendra Singh, Madhu Yadav and Madhu Choudhary

Abstract:
Heterosis for seed yield and its attributing traits was studied in 10 x 10 half diallel set of ten diverse cowpea genotypes under rainfed condition. The analysis of variance showed significant mean squares due to genotypes, parents, generations, F₁, F₂, F₁ vs F₂ progenies and parents vs generations for all the studied characters indicating the ample amount of genetic variability present in experimental material. Highly positive and significant heterosis over mid and better parent for seed yield per plant and its component traits suggested that there is ample scope for exploiting heterosis commercially and possibility of isolating desirable segregants. Heterosis ranged between -2.58 (CPD-119 x IC-2918) to 59.83 (RC-19 x RC-101) for seed yield per plant. Out of 45 crosses, eleven crosses exhibited positive significant heterosis and heterobeltiosis for seed yield per plant. Among these crosses, cross RC-19 x RC-101 for both heterosis and heterobeltiosis; RC-101 x CAZC-10 and IC-7832 x Saffron for heterosis; and Ajmer sel. x IC-2918 and IC-8966 x CAZC-10 for heterobeltiosis were found to be the most promising combinations for seed yield per plant. Out of these five crosses, only cross RC-19 x RC-101 also showed desirable heterosis/heterobeltiosis for most of associated traits i.e. pods per cluster, pods per plant, pod length, 100-seed weight and biomass per plant, hence that cross may be exploited in further plant breeding programme or identification of transgressive sergeants from the advanced generation.