Heterosis for yield and its components in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Line x tester analysis using a set of four females (lines) and ten males (testers) was carried out to estimate the heterobeltiosis for yield and its components in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Sufficiently high magnitude of heterobeltiosis in desirable direction was observed for grain yield per plant, grains per panicle, panicles per plant, panicle length, days to 50 % flowering, 1000 grain weight and L/B |ratio. As many as sixteen crosses showed significant positive heterosis over their respective better parental value for grain yield per plant. Crosses Sathi 34-36 x Lal kada, Sathi 34-36 x GR-6, and GR-5 x GR-6 were found to be most heterotic hybrids for grain yield per plant. Simultaneous increase in panicles per plant, grains per panicle and 1000 grain weight had positive effects towards higher grain yield.