Estimate heterosis for latex yield and its related traits in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

Abstract

Eight parents and their all possible crosses (Excluding reciprocals) of opium poppy were grown at experimental farm of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan) in randomized block design with three replications and two environments and estimate heterosis for 11 yield and yield related traits. Analysis of variances indicated significant variability among parents and their hybrids for all the eleven characters studied. Significant parents vs hybrids contrast for all the characters except for plant height, peduncle length and diameter of main capsule in pooled over environments indicated the presence of heterosis for these characters. The experimental result for heterosis revealed that out of 28 hybrids, 16 hybrids recorded significant positive heterosis for latex yield per plant, nine and six hybrids recorded significant positive heterobeltiosis and economic heterosis for latex yield per plant, respectively. The crosses UOP-53 x UOP-1185, UOP-80 x UOP-20, UOP-79 x UOP-1185 and UOP-79 x UOP-20 showed the highest magnitude of heterosis and heterobeltiosis for latex yield per plant, seed yield per plant, husk yield per plant, days to 50% flowering and seed harvest index. The crosses UOP-79 x UOP-60 and UOP-80 x UOP-20 showed highest significant positive economic heterosis for latex yield per plant, seed yield per plant, husk yield per plant, effective capsules per plant, days to 50% flowering, morphine content and seed harvest index. Among the hybrids studied, UOP-53 x UOP-1185, UOP-79 x UOP-60 and UOP-80 x UOP-20 were identified as promising with desirable yield and yield attributes. They can be handled for the exploitation of heterosis and to obtain suitable segregants.

Keywords

• heterosis
• opium poppy
• papaver somniferum l.
• latex yield and seed yield