A study conducted at Instructional cum Research Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur Chhattisgarh, to estimate the genetic diversity on 23 Hybrid rice genotypes using 18 microsatellite (SSR) markers, out of which fourteen SSR markers were found to be most informative for distinguishing the parental lines. Three rice CMS lines and twenty-three restorer lines used as parents in this study. Fourteen markers that were selected for the parental polymorphism study were: RM 517, RM 307, RM 228, RM 335, RM 251, RM 484, RM 09, RM 288, RM 302, RM 410, RM 444, RM 506, RM 411 and RM 535. The results shown in the study that considerable amount of genetic variability was present in the experimental material. Molecular markers like microsatellites (SSR’s) markers should be used in the studies to have a better understanding of parental polymorphism in the genetic materials and thus helpful for the exploitation of heterosis.

The present investigation was carried out at the research farm of the Division of Plant Breeding & Genetics, SKUAST, Jammu, Chatha, from Rabi 2104-15 to 2016-17. The experimental material of the present study comprised 20 true breeding facultative type winter wheat lines which were evaluated under rainfed conditions in a Randomized block design. The best ten winter wheat genotypes (Arkaan, Blue boy, China 4435893, Drina, DrinaNS 720, Nordersprez, WW12, WW21, WW23 and WW25) used as line and three spring wheat genotypes (PBW175, PBW 644 and WH 1080) were used as tester to develop the experimental material for line x tester mating design. In Rabi 2016-17, 30 F1s and advanced 30 F2 seeds along with parents were sown in a randomized block design under rainfed conditions. Observations were recorded on yield traits. Heterotic pattern estimation revealed that none of the cross combination had significant heterosis for all the traits. However, on individual trait basis, some of the crosses revealed significant heterosis. The crosses showing desirable heterosis (10 % or above that) were Nordersprez x PBW 175, WW21 x PBW 175, Drina x PBW 175, WW12 x PBW 175, WW25 x PBW 175 and Drina NS 720 x PBW 175, in F1 and F2 generation of crosses. Significant desirable heterosis for many traits revealed the possibility of yield improvement through heterosis breeding.