Heterosis and Inbreeding Depression for Yield Attributing Characters in F2 and F3 Generations of Pigeonpea

In the present investigation four pigeonpea crosses were studied to understand the extent of heterosis over mid-parent (MP) and better-parent (BP) for grain yield and its attributing characters. Maximum positive heterosis over MP was observed for seed yield per plant (132.88 %) and number of pods per plant (114.53 %). Similarly maximum heterosis over BP was observed for number of pods per plant (96.97 %) followed by seed yield per plant (96.11 %). Inbreeding depression for most of the characters was positive indicating that selection could be practiced in latter generations. High heterosis displayed by seed yield per plant may be due to pods per plant, branches per pant and plant height.