Semi-dwarf Plant Type Research Articles

Heterosis in rice over environments

Ten CMS (A) lines and their maintainers (B) and seven restorers (R) were used to make 70 crosses (A/R) and 70 reciprocals (R/B) following line x tester design. The 140 crosses and 17 parents (10 B + 7 R lines) were evaluated in six environments created by three nitrogen fertility levels (0, 60, 120 kg N/ha) and two seasons wet (WS) and dry (DS). Hybrids (both A/R and R/B) were superior to their parents in yield. Hybrids flowered earlier and were taller than the parents. Substantial heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis were observed in different environments. Extent of heterosis was higher in WS (stress environment) than in DS (favorable environment). Twenty four hybrids outyielded the standard check (IR46) significantly. Most of them were derived from crosses with parental lines: IR54752A/B, IR58057A/B, IR46 and IR54. For days to flowering, the overall mean heterosis, heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis were all negative values. Heterosis for plant height did not change the plant type of hybrids from semi-dwarf to tall because the parents possessed same dwarfing gene. With proper choice of parents hybrids possessing higher yield potential, early maturity and semi-dwarf plant type can be developed for the tropics.

Patterns of yield production in two semi-dwarf and two conventional height European spring wheats

SUMMARYTwo semi-dwarf and two conventional height European spring wheat varieties were grown at different sowing dates and sowing rates in two dry years. Yield component analysis showed the varieties to fall into three groups. The conventional height varieties were dependent for grain yield on either a high number of ears or a large number of spikelets per ear whereas the semi-dwarfs were dependent on high spikelet fertility.The semi-dwarfs were consistently higher yielding over a range of environmental conditions than the conventional height varieties. Maintenance of high yield was associated with high spikelet fertility and 1000-grain weight, characters determined late in development. It is suggested that the change to the semi-dwarf plant type has resulted in high yields with greater consistency over a range of environmental conditions particularly when dry.