Expression of heterosis for forage and grain yield in oat (Avena sativa L.)
Keywords:
Forage yield, Heterobeltiosis, Oat (Avena sativa L.), Standard heterosisAbstract
The per se performance of parents may not be reliable indicator of their genetic worth, which can be judged by their heterotic crosses or response. 21 F1s involving 10 diverse parents (7 lines used as female x 3 testers) of oat were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications during Rabi 2005-06 to compare the extent of heterosis over better parent (BP) and standard variety (SV) i.e. Kent. For green forage yield plant-1, maximum significant heterosis over BP was observed in cross OL 1389 x OS 6 followed by JHO 2000-4 x Kent and Sabzar x Kent while, maximum standard heterosis was found in OS 311 x Kent. The highest heterobeltiosis for grain yield plant-1 and dry matter yield was recorded in cross JHO 2000-4 x Kent followed by OS 311 x Kent and JHO 2000- 5 x Kent. Likewise, standard heterosis also follow similar trends of hybrids which were identified as potential crosses for both green forage as well as grain yield, thus these high heterotic crosses may be utilized in future crop breeding.