Unleashing the genetic potential of CMS-based F1 hybrids of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) to winter and summer temperature

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2018-20 to estimate
the heterosis in radish (Raphanus sativus L.). The significant
differences of mean squares among parents and hybrids for
various traits of economic importance indicated the presence
of sufficient variation. Economic heterosis for various traits
of economic importance were observed during winter and
summer seasons to the tune of -23.9–15.8% & 3.4–41.8% for
days to first harvest, -30.2–32.4% & 5.9–95.8% for root
length, -15.3–16.5% & -7.3–24.5% for leaf length, -23.1–
30.0% & -9.3–85.1% for root weight, -32.9–39.6% & -18.1–
36.4% for leaf weight, -5.3–9.7% & -15.8–40.4% for harvest
index, and -24.2–33.6% & 1.8–42.8%, respectively for
marketable yield. Realizing the importance of marketable root
as well as consumers’ preference for sinuate/entire leaf shape
during summer; the most promising CMS-based F1 hybrids
are VRRAD-12×VRRAD-213, VRRAD-11×VRRAD-213,
VRRAD-201×VRRAD-213, VRRAD-13×VRRAD-213 &
VRRAD-12×VRRAD-200 for winter season cultivation; and
VRRAD-201×VRRAD-200, VRRAD-198×VRRAD-200 &
VRRAD-13×VRRAD-200 for summer season cultivation at
high temperature (28.5-43.4 °C). Furthermore, the following
parents are the best combiners for harnessing the heterotic
potential such as VRRAD-12 & VRRAD-201 as female and
VRRAD-213 & VRRAD-200 as male for winter season; and
VRRAD-201 & VRRAD-19 as female and heat tolerant line
VRRAD-200 as male parent for summer season.