Legume Research - An International Journal

Sixteen soybean hybrids derived from crossing four lines and four testers in a line × tester mating design alongwith their eight parents were evaluated for 14 yield and yield component characters to estimate heterosis. Heterosis was observed for all the characters studied. Four hybrids LSb 3 × PK 472, DSb 1 × PK 472, DSb 1 × PK 1029 and DSb 1 × MACS 201 recorded significant positive heterosis over mid-and better-parents for grain yield per plant. It is primarily due to complementary combination of component traits viz., plant dry weight, harvest index, number of pods per plant and number of branches per plant. Positive heterosis over better parent was recorded for oil content in the cross LSb 3 × MACS 201 and for protein content in the cross JS 90–41 × PK 472. These heterotic cross combinations could be exploited to get superior segregants.