Performance and heterosis estimation on yield and yield components of several rice hybrid lines

An experiment was conducted to study the heterosis of 12 F1 rice hybrids derived from crosses between three CMS lines (IR79126A, IR78374A and 0025A) and four local restorers (001R, 002R, 003R and 004R). The popular rice variety MR 219 was used as standard check. Estimation of standard and better-parent heterosis of the F1 hybrid lines was evaluated on yield and yield components. The heterosis for days to 50% heading and culm height of the F1 hybrids were mostly in negative direction for both standard and better-parent heterosis. This indicated that the F1 hybrids have shorter maturation and culm height compared to the MR 219 or to their better-parents. Four F1 hybrids, namely HY011H, HY009H, HY006H and HY012H have higher yield/plant than MR 219 and have standard and better-parent heterosis range from 24.8% to 48.0%. Plant yield is positively correlated to the number of panicles/plant, total spikelets/panicle and percentage of filled spikelets/panicle. These promising F1 hybrid lines are recommended for further evaluation in preliminary and advance yield trials