Heterosis Studies for Seed Yield and its Components in Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Sixty-six hybrids of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) resulting from crossing of twelve open pollinated varieties in diallel design excluding reciprocals were evaluated in R.B.D. at research farm, SKN College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan). Results indicated that an appreciable amount of heterosis and heterobeltiosis was evident for most of the characters studied. For seed yield per plant magnitude of heterosis over mid- and better parent varied from –25.63 to 61.89% and –25.97 to 54.28%, respectively. The cross combinations UF(M)-1 x HF-102, UF-134 x Local, JF-25 x HF-71, RF-125 x UF-133, UF-90 x HF-102, UF-134 x HF-71, RF-125 x UF-90, HF-71 x HF-102, RF-101 x JF-25 and UF(M)-1 x Local were found most desirable as these showed high magnitude of heterosis over better parent for seed yield per plant along with other yield contributing characters, which offers a better scope for commercial exploitation of heterosis in fennel.