HETEROSIS FOR SEED YIELD AND ITS COMPONENT CHARACTERS IN PIGEONPEA [Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.]

N.K. PAGI¹*, Y. RAVINDRABABU², D.T. DHARAJIYA³, J.M. PATEL⁴, M.P. PATEL^5
1Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C.P. College of Agriculture, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, 385 506, Gujarat, India
²Pulses Research Station, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, 385 506, Gujarat, India
³Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C.P. College of Agriculture, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, 385 506, Gujarat, India
⁴Wheat Research Station, S.D. Agricultural University, Vijapur, 382870, Gujarat, India
⁵Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, C.P. College of Agriculture, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, 385 506, Gujarat, India
* Corresponding Author : nalinpagi2007@gmail.com

Received : 21-11-2016     Accepted : 09-12-2016     Published : 12-12-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 60       Pages : 3392 - 3395
Int J Agr Sci 8.60 (2016):3392-3395

Keywords : Heterosis, Genotypes, Seed yield, Line x Tester, Cajanus cajan L. Millsp
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : All the authors would like to thank authorities of Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, India, for providing facilities for the successful completion of the research work
Author Contribution : N. K. Pagi conducted the experiment, performed the analytical work and drafted the manuscript. Y. Ravindrababu was major advisor of the research work, designed the experiment and conceptualized the preparation of the manuscript. D. T. Dharajiya contribute

The heterosis study for seed yield and its attributes was carried out in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.] through line × tester mating design in four different seasons. Highly significant mean squares differences among all the four environments for all the characters were exhibited by the pooled analysis of variance. The variance due to hybrids, lines, testers and line × tester interactions were also significant for most of the characters studied demonstrating the presence of significant variability among the material used in the study and presence of overall heterosis for all the characters. The magnitude of heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis altered for all the crosses and for all the characters studied. In general, it is inferred that magnitudes of heterotic effects were high for seed yield per plant, pod clusters per plant, pods per plant, 100-seed weight and protein content. Expressing moderate heterotic effects for days to flowering, days to maturity, seeds per pod and pod length and low for plant height. The hybrids GT 610 A× GTR 84, GT 603 A × GTR 81 and GT 610 A × GTR 82 exhibited the highest, significant and positive heterotic effect and mean performance for seed yield per plant and some of its important component traits. This could be exploited commercially for heterosis breeding in pigeonpea.