Heterosis studies in 6-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare) under different sowing condition

Abstract

A set of diallel crosses involving 10 diverse parents (excluding reciprocals) of barlay (Hordeum vulgare L.) was made and its F2’s were evaluated under three different date of sowings during rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17 at RARI, Durgapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Heterosis for grain yield per plant ranged from -20.75 to 41.86 %; -21.95 to 39.65 %and -48.13 to 64.34 % under early (E1), normal (E2) and late (E3) sowing conditions, respectively. Out of 45 crosses, nine crosses in E1 and fifteen crosses in each E2 and E3 exhibited positive significant heterosis while, seven crosses in E1 and E3 and nine crosses in E2 exhibited positive significant heterobeltiosis. Negative significant inbreeding depression for grain yield per plant was reported. Overall, crosses BHS 400 × PL 426, PL 426 × RD 2552 and BH 959 × RD 2552 exhibited positive significant heterosis and heterobeltiosis. Hence, these crosses considered to be most desirable for grain yield per plant. The study revealed good scope for commercial exploitation of heterosis as well as isolation of pure lines among the progenies of heterotic F1 for improvement of yield.

Keywords

• Heterosis
• Inbreeding depression
• Six-rowed barley
• Diallel crosses
• Grain yield.