Harnessing hybrid vigor: Unveiling heterosis for fresh pod yield and its component traits in vegetable pigeon pea (Cajanus Cajan L. Millsp.)

India has emerged as a global leader in employing heterosis for developing high-yielding F₁ hybrids across diverse crops. While initial attempts in pigeon pea hybrid development began in the 1980s, the extensive use of heterosis breeding has proven transformative for enhancing yield potential in various crops. This study evaluated 24 F₁ hybrids resulting from crossing four pigeon pea lines with six distinct genotypes, aiming to identify optimal heterotic combinations for increased yield. Our findings revealed a wide range of variations in heterobeltosis and standard heterosis across all traits, including fresh pod yield per plant. In case of fresh pod yield per plant, heterobeltiosis ranged from -69.30 to 216.18 % and standard heterosis varied from – 53.51 to 166.49 %. Notably, the cross ICPL 87091 X BRGL 9-2 demonstrated the highest mean performance (384.56g) for fresh pod yield per plant, and also exhibited 216.18 %, 154.38 % and 138.62%, heterosis over better parent, standard checks BRG 1 and BRG-3, respectively. Hybrids The hybrids ICPL 87091 × BRGL 9-2, ICPL 87091 × BRG-5 and ICPL 87091 × BRG-1 displayed substantial heterosis compared to reference checks BRG-1 and BRG-3 for enhancing fresh pod yield. These hybrids hold potential for isolating superior segregants, contributing to high-yielding pigeon pea varieties. Large-scale testing and evaluation will assess adaptability and general performance, ultimately aiding efforts to advance pigeon pea agriculture and bolster food security.