Exploitation of heterosis in hybrids developed using cytoplasmic genetic male sterility (CGMS) system in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh]

To ascertain heterosis forty hybrids were developed from fourteen parents in a line x tester mating design during kharif, 2017-18 and tested in a Randomized Block Design with three replications during kharif, 2018-19. The analysis of variance revealed that the mean sum of squares due to lines were significant for all characters except number of seed per pod and 100 seed weight, whereas the mean sum of squares due to testers were significant for all characters except number of seed per pod and seed yield per plant. This indicates the presence of sufficient amount of variability in parents utilized for hybridization. The mean sum of squares due to lines vs testers was significant for all characters except days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of seed per pod and 100 seed weight. The mean sum of squares due to parents vs hybrids as well as due to hybrids were significant for all characters. The analysis of variance further revealed that the significant difference was found among lines, tester and hybrids for all the characters. This indicates that there is good chance of exploit the heterosis from present investigation. The estimates of heterosis showed that the five hybrids CMS GT 1603 A x GTR 23, CMS GT 288 A x GTR 55, CMS GT 1603 A x GTR 97, CMS GT 1616 A x GTR 55 and CMS GT 1616 A x GTR 97 were found the most promising on the basis of per se performance, standard heterosis, mid parent heterosis and better parent heterosis. Therefore, it needs to be exploited in future breeding programme.