Heterosis for seed yield and its contributing characters in castor [Ricinus communis L.]

The phenomenon of heterosis has provided the most important genetic tools in improving yield of crop plants. Identification of specific parental combination capable of producing the highest level of heterotic effects in F1 has immense value for commercial exploitation of heterosis. The experimental material comprising 10 inbred lines, their resultant 45 cross combinations and one standard check GCH 7 was evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Agronomy farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, A. A. U., Anand. The estimates of heterosis revealed that 32 and 23 crosses manifested significant positive relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis, respectively for seed yield per plant. Whereas, none of the crosses showed significant positive standard heterosis. The hybrid SH 1 x PCS 124 expressed the highest relative heterosis and heterobeltiosis (63.58% and 57.68%) followed by SKI 324 x VH 63-1-3 (59.62%, and 57.49%), ANDCI 8 x SH 1 (57.47% and 48.08%) and SH 42 x PCS 124 (55.44% and 52.83%), respectively.