Biplot Approach for Identification of Heterotic Crosses in Linseed (Linum usitatissimumL.)

In India, among nonedible oilseed crops, linseed is a commercial crop having tremendous economic and industrial importance. The seed production is low due to limited resources, so the development of high-yielding lines with desirable characters is urgently needed. In the present study seven parents' half diallel data was subjected to biplot analysis to identify the heterotic crosses, genetically similar parents, and to study their interrelationship. Parent Sln-Ys with A-79 and A-03 with A-79 for capsules per plant and seed yield, parent Mukta with Sln-Ys and Mukta with BAU-45 for seeds per capsule, and parents Mukta, A-103, A-79 and A-94 for test weight had lowest correlation. Parent B [Mukta] and F [A-79] were good general combiner for all the traits. The crosses F [A-79]  ×  A [Sln-Ys] and D [A-03]  ×  F [A-79] for capsules per plant, test weight and seed yield per plant, cross D [A-03]  ×  A [Sln-Ys] for capsules per plant and test weight and cross D [A-03]  ×  F [A-79] for test weight and seed yield per plant were heterotic. None of the crosses were heterotic for seeds per capsule