Heterosis and Combining Ability in Aromatic Hybrid Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Out of seventy two hybrids developed by 4 x 18 Line x Tester crossing programme in aromatic rice, carried out at Navsari Agriculture University, Navsari, 14.74 per cent standard heterosis was observed for grain yield plant-1 over aromatic hybrid check Pusa RH 10 in KJTCMS 6A x Pusa sugandh 4, followed by IR 58025A x Pusa sugandh 5 (13.79%) and IR 58025A x SKL 41-30 (10.79%). The range of standard heterosis over GR 104 was -34.37 per cent (RTN 17A/GR-104) to 35.02 per cent (IR 58025A/Pusa sugandh 5) and -44.23 per cent (RTN 17A/GR-104) to 14.74 per cent (IR 58025A/Pusa sugandh 5) over aromatic hybrid check Pusa RH 10. Among the hybrids with positive and significant SCA effects for grain yield, the frequency of good x good combiner was more. Regarding combination of parents among top three hybrids, it was found that, topmost hybrid KJTCMS 6A/Pusa sugandh 4 had combination of average x good parents and hybrids IR 58025A x Pusa sugandh 5 and IR 58025A x SKL 41-30 were having both the parents of good performance. Among top eight performing hybrids, three hybrids viz. KJTCMS 6A x Pusa sugandh 4 followed by IR 58025A x Pusa sugandh 5 and IR 58025A x SKL 41-30 exhibited significant favorable heterobeltotis, standard heterosis, GCA and SCA effects for yield and most of the related traits. Hence, these could be utilized for commercial cultivation after proper evaluation by means of multi-location trials.