Heterosis for seed yield, yield contributing traits and β-ODAP content in lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: An investigation was conducted to assess heterosis for seed yield, yield contributing traits and β-ODAP content in Lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus L.). The experimental material comprised 39 F1 crosses developed by crossing 13 lines with three testers in a line × tester mating design. The F1 hybrids along with their parents were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications during Rabi 2025–26 at the Research Farm of the Agricultural Botany Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur. Heterosis was estimated over the better parent (heterobeltiosis) and the standard check Ratan (useful heterosis) for days to first flowering, days to 50 per cent flowering, days to maturity, plant height, branches plant-1, pods plant-1, 100-seed weight, seed yield plant-1 and β-ODAP content. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes and crosses for all the traits studied, indicating substantial genetic variability among the experimental material. Significant positive heterobeltiosis for seed yield plant-1 was observed in four crosses, namely NLM-23 × Ratan (31.59%), NLM-12 × Ratan (25.99%), NLM-12 × Prateek (24.32%) and NLK-73 × Prateek (16.38%). These crosses also exhibited significant useful heterosis for seed yield plant-1 of 31.59%, 25.99%, 20.07% and 18.29% respectively. Significant desirable heterosis was also observed for important yield contributing traits, particularly branches plant-1 and pods plant-1. For β-ODAP content, desirable negative heterobeltiosis was recorded in several crosses, with the highest negative heterosis observed in NLK-73 × Ratan (−40.08%), followed by NLM-12 × Ratan (−29.20%) and NLM-12 × Mahateora (−28.51%). The results indicated that NLM-23 × Ratan, NLM-12 × Ratan, NLM-12 × Prateek and NLK-73 × Prateek were promising cross combinations for higher seed yield along with desirable performance for yield contributing traits. These crosses may be useful in further breeding programmes for the development of high-yielding and low-β-ODAP Lathyrus genotypes.
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214739307