Study of heterosis and inbreeding depression for bud fly infestation and its attributes in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) in central Uttar Pradesh

For the estimation of economic parent heterosis and inbreeding depression 49 genotypes (21 F₁ and 21 F₂ involving 7 parents) of linseed were estimated in 11 characters. The heterosis, over economic check Neelum showed positive and significant by the crosses JRF-5 × Neela, GS-234 × IC-15888, GS-234 × JRF-5, EC-1424 × GS-234, EC-1424 × IC-15888, EC-1424 × JRF-5, EC-1424 × Neela, GS-234 × Neela, IC-15888 × JRF-5, IC-15888 × Shekhar, IC-15888 × Neela, JRF-5 × Shekhar, Shekhar × Neela and IC-15888 × Neelum. For Sepal thickness, positive and significant economic heterosis was observed by 3 crosses namely JRF-5 × Shekhar, JRF-5 × Neelum and JRF-5 × NeelaFor days to maturity cross EC-1424 × Shekhar). Dough stage bud fly infestation, EC-1424 × IC-15888, EC-1424 × JRF-5, IC-15888 × Neelum, Shekhar × Neelum, IC-15888 × JRF-5, GS-234 × Neela, JRF-5 × Neelum and Neelum × Neela. Capsule per plant, (GS-234 × Shekhar, IC-15888 × Shekhar, IC-15888 × Neela and JRF-5 × Shekhar) Oil content and EC-1424 × IC-15888, IC-15888 × Neelum, JRF-5 × Neelum, Shekhar × Neelum, IC-15888 × JRF-5 and Neelum × Neela for seed yield per plant. Positive values of inbreeding depression were considered as desirable for flowering duration, days to maturity, bud length, bud width, dough stage bud fly infestation and while negative values were considered as desirable for other attributes. These cross combinations could be utilized for further use in breeding programme for improvement in yield and tolerance bud fly infestation of linseed.