physicochemical

HETEROSIS FOR YIELD AND YIELD ATTRIBUTING TRAITS IN SAFFLOWER
6915 (-4.14% and -2.70%) depicted significant
heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis in the desirable
direction, respectively. Four hybrids viz., HUS 305 x
GMU 6915 (-11.90%), Manjira x GMU 6915 (-17.46%),
A1 x GMU 1946 (-22.45%) and A-1 x GMU 6915
(-16.08%) exhibited highly significant and desirable
negative heterobeltiosis for plant . Similar results
were also reported by Patil et al. (1998).
Two hybrids viz., Manjira x GMU 1702
(15.48% and 13.45%), A-1 x GMU 2914-15 (10.98%
and 13.10%) exhibited significant and maximum
positive heterosis over better parent and standard
check for number of capsules per plant. The range
of heterobeltiosis for this character varied from -
41.44% (Manjira x GMU 3272) to 15.48% (Manjira x
GMU 1702). The range of heterobeltiosis for number
of seeds per capitula varied from -25.89% (HUS 305
x GMU 1946) to 38.55% (Manjira x GMU 1702)
whereas, the standard heterosis values ranged from
6.41% (HUS 305 x GMU 1946) to 48.72% (HUS 305
x GMU 2914-15). The cross Manjira x GMU 1702
which exhibited positive significant heterobeltiosis
and standard heterosis also exhibited similar
estimates of heterosis for number of seeds per
capitulum. Patil and Narkhede (1996) reported similar
results for this trait.
Heterobeltiosis for test weight varied from -
18.57% (Nira x GMU 3272) to 13.14% (Nira x GMU
6915) and standard heterosis for this trait ranged from
-13.75% to 11.46%. Highly significant positive
heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis for seed yield
was recorded by Manjira x GMU 1702 (43.58% and
44.31%) followed by HUS 305 x GMU 6915 (38.73%
and 38.63%) and A-1 x GMU 2914-15 (21.70% and
39.36%), respectively. Comparision of the above top
three crosses for yield based on per se performance,
heterosis over better parent and standard check
indicated that most superior hybrids were
accompanied by significant and positive heterosis
over better parent and standard check for yield
attributes viz. number of capitula per plant, number
of seeds per capitulum and test weight advocating
that the high heterosis for seed yield resulted through
contribution of its component traits (Table 2). Results
are in agreement with the findings of Manjare and
Jambhale (1995).
Considerable heterobeltiosis and standard
heterosis observed for seed yield and other
associated characters suggested the presence of
large genetic diversity among the males and the
females and also the unidirectional distribution of
allelic constitution contributing towards desirable
heterosis in the present material. Low and nonsignificant
magnitude of desirable heterosis and
heterobeltiosis observed for some of the characters
viz., oil content (%) indicated the narrow genetic base
among the males and the females and also the
ambidirectional distribution of allelic constitution
contributing towards undesirable heterosis. It may
also be due to mutual cancellation of effects of
dominant alleles present in the material.
REFERENCES
Manjare, M. R and Jambhale, N. D. 1995. Heterosis
for yield and yield contributing characters in
safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). Indian
Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding,
55: 65-68.
Panse, V.G and Sukhatme, P.V. 1967. Statistical
methods for agricultural workers. Second Edn.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New
Delhi.
Patil, S. C and Narkhede, B. N. 1996. Heterosis for
yield and yield components in irrigated
safflower. Journal of Maharashtra Agricultural
Universities, 21: 261-264.
Patil, H. S., Zope, R. E and Ghorpade, S. R. 1998.
Heterosis studies in safflower. Indian Journal
of Agricultural Research, 32 : 101-104.
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