Unleashing the genetic potential of CMS-based F₁ hybrids of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) to winter and summer temperature

Field experiments wereconducted during 2018–20 toestimate the heterosis in radish (Raphanus sativus L.). The significant differences of mean squares among parents and hybrids for varioustraitsofeconomicimportanceindicated thepresence of sufficient variation. Economic heterosis for various traits of economic importance were observed during winter and summer seasonstothetuneof -23.9–15.8% &3.4–41.8%for days to first harvest, -30.2–32.4% & 5.9–95.8% for root length, -15.3–16.5% & -7.3–24.5% for leaf length, -23.1- 30.0% & -9.3–85.1% for root weight, -32.9–39.6% & -18.1- 36.4% for leaf weight, -5.3–9.7% & -15.8–40.4% for harvest index, and -24.2–33.6% & 1.8–42.8%, respectively for marketableyield. Realizing the importance of marketableroot as well as consumers’ preference for sinuate/entire leaf shape during summer; the most promising CMS-based F₁ hybrids are VRRAD-12×VRRAD-213, VRRAD-11×VRRAD-213, VRRAD-201×VRRAD-213, VRRAD-13×VRRAD-213 & VRRAD-12×VRRAD-200 for winter season cultivation; and VRRAD-201×VRRAD-200, VRRAD-198×VRRAD-200 & VRRAD-13×VRRAD-200 for summer season cultivation at high temperature (28.5–43.4°C). Furthermore, the following parents are the best combiners for harnessing the heterotic potential such as VRRAD-12 & VRRAD-201 as female and VRRAD-213 & VRRAD-200 as male for winter season; and VRRAD-201 & VRRAD-19 as female and heat tolerant line VRRAD-200 as male parent for summer season.