The nature and magnitude of heterosis for the economic traits of vetiver{Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty}

Abstract

A total of 65 F1 vetiver hybrids were developed using the L × T design by mating 13 males with 5 females. The goal of this endeavor is to increase the possibility of developing high-yielding, quality essential oil varieties by utilizing heterosis and genetic variability. The heritability (%) was high for the traits CH4, CH7 to CH11 (81.90–99.69%). A positive and highly significant association exists between the features of CH2 and CH3. The trait CH8 showed the highest direct contributions to CH4, followed by CH-3, CH-5, CH4, and CH1. Heritability, correlations, and heterosis components all have an impact on the nature and degree of heterosis. It recommends that when selecting superior hybrids, breeders should take into account the genetic correlation between key traits. Based on average performance and heterosis for the root yield/plot, the top two crosses were determined to be L13 × T1 and L10 × T3. While hybrids L10 × T5, L2 × T3, and L4 × T5 showed high essential oil yield, four hybrids, L1 × T2, L3 × T3, L9 × T4, and L2 × T5, had the highest essential oil (%). A nor-sesquiterpene aldehyde (khusilal), two cedrene family chemicals (α-cedrenal and α-cedrenol), and one sesquiterpene alcohol, or khusol constitute the oil composition. The inclusion of just alcoholic and aldehydic components makes the oil fingerprint distinct. Further research was conducted on these hybrids to take advantage of heterosis and employ them in further hybridization programs to create superior genotypes.