Qualitative traits ratio, heterosis and inbreeding depression of quantitative traits of new promising hybrid rice genotypes Chimdi Grace O1, Abu Ngozi E2,*, Ojua Eugene O2, Russom Z3, Fagam S. A.4 1Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Agricultural Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigera 2Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 3Department of Crop Production, University of Jos 4Department of Crop Production, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi *Corresponding author: Abu, Ngozi E, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, e-mail: ngozi.abu@unn.edu.ng, +234- 806 466 4555
Online published on 13 July, 2021. Abstract Seven rice genotypes involving six cultivated and one non cultivated genotype were crossed at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria. The 7 parents and 8 successful hybrids comprising the F1 and F2 plants were evaluated in Northern Guinea Savannah Ecology of Nigeria. The aim of the study was to determine the level of segregation among the qualitative traits and evaluate the magnitude of heterosis among the F1 and F2 hybrids to identify superior hybrids for advancement. Among the qualitative characters, there were different patterns of segregation depending on the genotypes crossed and the type of trait. Characters had either 3:1, 9:7, or 15:1 phenotypic segregation ratio among the F2 hybrids for glume and stem color. The FARO 48 × FARO 19 cross showed an increase over the mid-parent and better-parent in more traits (plant height, number of leaves per plant, flag leaf length, width and area, number of tillers with seeds per plant, grain length: width, panicle length, number of panicle branches per plant, 100-seed weight per plant and grain yield). It was also found to have the highest grain yield heterosis (221.5) and heterobeltiosis (178.3). The parent FARO 48 was observed in most of the combinations that resulted in an increase over the mid- parent and the better-parent. Therefore, it could also be exploited in rice breeding programs to increase rice productivity; whereas the hybrid FARO 48 × FARO 19 showed promises and may be considered for commercial exploitation. Top Keywords Breeding, FARO, Genotype, Oryza glaberrima, Oryza sativa, Phenotype. Top |