Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Lucknow 226 016
An examination of a 5×5 full diallel progenies in Indian opium poppy revealed that both additive and nonadditive genetic variances were important, the latter being predominant over the former. Overdominant tod were prevalent in the expression of nearly all the traits studied. The parents P1 and P4 were the best combiners and hybrids involving them, viz., P1 × P4, P1 × P3 and P1 × P4 were the most heterotic hybrids for latex yield. Thus P4, the newly released var. Shyama, was the most desirable male parent to obtain high economic heterosis for raw opium, plant height and flowering time. It was also the choicest seed parent for peduncle length and capsules/plant. The study has further reflected that on Judicious selection based on genetic diversity of parents for hybridization, the Indian genetic stocks of opium poppy may form potential parents to exploit heterosis for latex yield. Also, contrary to the general view held, the significantly positive gca effects of parents do not necessarily cause transmission of greater values in the progenies and vice versa with negative effects.
Opium poppy, gene action, combining ability, heterosis
