Estimation of Heterosis of Flax (Linum Usitatissimum L.) by in half diallel cross

Abstract

In this study, eight genotypes of flax (Linum Usitatissimum L.) were used (Sakha 1, Sakha 2, Sakha 3, Sakha 5, Sakha 6, Syrian, Giza and Poloni) and their half crosses obtained according to the second method proposed by Griffing (1956). Genotypes (8 parents + 28 hybrids) were planted in the fields of the College of Agriculture / University of Kirkuk in the winter season (2021-2022) according to randomized complete design (RCBD) with three replications to study the studied traits (plant height, number of days flowering 50%, and number of days contracting 50 %, number of days of physiological maturity, number of branches, number of capsules, number of capsule seeds, weight of 1000 seeds, biological yield, seed yield, and harvest index). The hybrids (Sakha 5 × Sakha 6), (Sakha 1 × Giza 8) and (Sakha 1 ×thorshansity72) outperformed in hybrid heterosis based on the deviation of the second generation of the mean parents in the desired direction in the number of days to flowering, set, maturity, seed yield and harvest index. The hybrid (Sakha 2 × thorshansity72) excelled in the vigor of the hybrid based on the deviation of the second generation of the best parents for the traits of the number of days, flowering, knot, maturity, the number of seeds in the capsule and the biological yield, enables the follow-up of solitary generations and selection according to the breeding method determined by the genetic action of these traits.