Abstract

The exploitation of hybrid vigor in black gram depends on the direction and magnitude of heterosis, biological feasibilities, and the type of gene actions involved. Inbreeding is the basic mechanism for providing base materials for selection, and information on inbreeding depression is helpful in determining the effectiveness of selection. In this study, five intervarietal crosses were made using four parental lines, and observations were taken on various metric traits in the parents, F1, and F2 generations. Heterosis over mid and better parents in F1 and inbreeding depression in F2 were calculated. The mean seed yield of all hybrids was higher than their respective parents, indicating substantial heterosis for seed yield per plant. Hybrid combinations that showed higher estimates of heterosis also exhibited higher inbreeding depression.

Keywords: Heterosis, biological feasibilities, gene actions and inbreeding