Estimation of heterosis for yield and its attributing characters and study of intra-spikelet competition for see size in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Abstract

An investigation was carried out at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bengaluru during 2009-10 to estimate the extent of heterosis in hybrids and to explore intra-spikelet competition for seed size in finger millet in two separate experiments. Heterosis for yield and yield attributing characters were studied for the hybrids synthesized through Line × Tester mating design using four lines and four testers. Among 16 hybrids developed, percent heterosis over mid parent and better parent was negatively significant in most of the hybrids, suggesting the involvement of dominant gene action with negative effects. The hybrid GE 4596 × L 5 and GE 4596 × GPU 69 had significant and superior per se performance for grain yield per plant, straw yield per plant, finger length, peduncle length, number of fingers per ear, culm thickness and number of productive tillers per plant. The five hybrids viz., GE 4596 × L 5, GE 4596 × GE 5095, GPU 28 × L 5, GPU 28 × GE 5095 and GE 4906 × GE 5095 showed significant heterosis for most of the traits over their parents. Three promising varieties viz., HR 911, PR 202 and GPU 28 were included to know the intra-spikelet competition for seed size. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in 1000 grain weight, collected from different position of florets within a spikelet at different positions of spike, suggesting that there was no intra spikelet competition for seed size under normal environmental conditions and the varieties need to be tested under moisture stress environment