Study of heterosis for fruit characters in inter cultivar crosses of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

The present investigation is an attempt to study the heterosis manifested by the individual hybrid over the mid, better and top-parent for fruit characters in pomegranate. The percentage of heterosis in crosses (hybrids) over mid-parent in desirable direction was maximum for juice weight per fruit (86.44%), followed by aril weight per fruit (71.20%), fruit weight (65.1%), fruit volume (58.50%), rind thickness (−48.92%), aril: rind ratio (39.09%) and juice percent on fruit weight basis (23.98%). The percentage of heterosis over better-parent in desirable direction was maximum for juice weight per fruit (61.77%) and rind thickness (−46.98%). None of the crosses recorded significant heterosis over top-parent in favourable direction for any parameter under evaluation.