Heterosis for seed yield and its component character in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Abstract

Castor significantly pronounced as a potential leading non edible oil crop, this investigation is carried out to find out the heterosis of four lines and ten testers via line x tester biometrical approach, resulting in the development of 40 hybrids together with 14 parents and 1 standard check (GCH 9) were tested using randomized block design with three replications at Sagdividi Farm, Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh late Kharif 2024-25. The highest significant heterosis regarding positive direction over standard check were recorded by crosses viz., SKP 84 x JI 518 (30.85%), IPC 30 × JI 518 (25.03%) and SKP 126 × JI 531 (25.00%) for seed yield. This highlights the promising prospects of castor as an economically viable annual crop with high seed yield potential.