Heterosis studies in China aster

Fifteen F₁ hybrids of China aster (Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees.) in a diallel set involving six parents (excluding reciprocals) were evaluated to study the magnitude of heterosis at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Gardening. Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi-591310 (UAS, Dharwad). The characters studied were plant height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, plant spread, days to bud initiation, days to first flowering, days for bud to bloom, duration of flowering, number of flowers per plant, average weight of flower, flower yield per plant, stalk length and vase life. Appreciable heterosis was observed for all the characters and the performance of F₁ hybrids was better than the top parent except the average weight of flower. Considering the economic traits like number of flowers per plant, stalk length, flower weight and earliness, the crosses P₅ × P₆(RG. Violet × P.G. White), P₁ × P₅ (Kamini × P.G. Violet) and P₄ × P₅ (P.G. Pink × P.G. Violet) combinations were found to be the best and are recommended for the commercial exploitation of heterosis.