Strategies for plant improvement arising from basic genetic studies on some crop plants

Abstract

Basic studies on pearlmillet (Pennisetum typhoides L.), rapeseed (Brassica campestris L. var. brown sarson) and triticale were utilized to classify parents and hybrids conforming to known designs of mating as of High or Low potential. Methods were devised to pool information, particularly on combining ability and heterosis, on a large number of component characters spanning the entire growth phase of the plant. High x Low crosses showed, in all crops, a higher frequency of heterotic crosses than High x High or Low x Low. These were also efficient as parents of productive three - and four-way crosses. A feasible hypothesis to explain the superiority of High x Low crosses was provided.