Heterosis Analysis Over Environments for Seed Yield and Its Attributing Traits in Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

A complete set of 79 entries comprising of twelve parents, their 66 F1s and one check RLC-92 were evaluated during rabi 2020-21 at two locations i.e., ARS, Dahod, and BTRS, Anand, under two dates of sowing i.e., 2nd fortnight of October and 1st fortnight of November. The present study aimed to investigate the Heterosis analysis over environments for seed yield and its attributing traits in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.). Among the all four environments, E1 had higher mean value for seed yield per plant and all other important yield contributing traits indicating sowing in second fortnight at Dahod conditions best for linseed cultivation. The hybrids viz., Indira × ILS 264, RLC 133 × Kartika, H 45 × Kartika, IPI 10 × H 45 and IPI 10 × Kartika depicted higher better parent heterosis (HB) and Shekhar × GS 384 and Shekhar × H 45 noted significant standard heterosis for seed yield per plant and other traits. Parental lines, Shekhar, GS 384, H 45, KB 961, IPI 10 and Kartika yielded superior heterotic crosses for seed yield and its component characters. The heterotic effect for seed yield per plant was found to be associated with heterosis for its related traits in the majority of the crosses. High standard heterosis and heterobeltiosis for seed yield per plant and its component characters suggested ample scope of exploiting heterosis commercially. The magnitude of heterosis provides information on the extent of genetic diversity in parents of a cross and helps in choosing the parents for superior Fl’s, and to exploit hybrid vigour.